Active grenades only used by soldiers: Police

Active grenades only used by soldiers: Police

JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman
said on Tuesday that live or active grenades similar to those
found on a railway track in Bekasi, West Java were commonly used
by soldiers.

But the police chief refused to speculate that certain members
of the Indonesian Military (TNI) were involved in the planting of
the grenades.

"Active grenades are only used by soldiers... the Army. The
only grenades police officers use are smoke grenades (bombs).
They're normally used to disperse violent protests," Mulyono told
The Jakarta Post over the phone.

"But up till now, police have not found any indication that
any member of the TNI was involved."

Three active grenades were luckily found by a herder on Monday
in the middle of, and under the railway tracks between the Lemah
Abang railway station of Bekasi, and Kedung Gede railway station
of Karawang.

Meanwhile, Bekasi Police chief Adj. High Comr. Idrus Gassing
said a Rp 10 million (US$1049) cash reward has been prepared by
the Jakarta Police for whoever knows or has seen the person or
people who planted the explosives.

"This was told to me personally by Jakarta Police Deputy Chief
(Brig. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara). The person who gets the award
must also be ready to testify as a witness in court, if
necessary," Idrus told the Post.

The herder who found the grenades, Taufik, 15, had alerted the
Lemah Abang railway station at about 2 p.m. on Monday, which in
turn alerted the police.

All trains passing the Lemah Abang-Kedung Gede routes were
delayed for three and a half hours on Monday, as the National
Police bomb squad cleared the railway tracks.

When asked if the planting of the grenades was a terror tactic
aimed to stop Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) supporters from amassing in
Jakarta, Mulyono simply said: "We have not found any proof of
that yet."

The grenades were planted on tracks on which trains from
Surabaya, East Java head for Jakarta.

NU supporters, mainly based in East Java, planned to flood
into the capital after hearing reports of a possible massive
rally against President Abdurrahman Wahid, who is a highly
respected figure in the NU, on Jan. 15.

Idrus added on Tuesday that the Jakarta Police were "still
completely in the dark about the suspects.

"The only way we are going to solve this case is if there is a
witness who saw someone actually planting the bombs," Idrus said.

Idrus said that the Bekasi Police had also planned to reward
the herder, Taufik, for his vigilance with a three-year
scholarship. The award will be made on Wednesday at Gedung
Waringin police subprecinct.

"He is in junior high school now. Though we cannot repay
Taufik for what he has done... he has saved several people from
getting killed, the Bekasi Police will fund Taufik's high school
studies for the next three years," Idrus said.

Separately, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication
Agum Gumelar condemned on Tuesday the planting of the grenades,
calling it a sabotage which was aimed at inciting riots and
conflict among people.

"I cannot imagine, the number of lives which would have been
lost, had those grenades exploded. The public must help the
police, in every possible way," Agum said.

Following the grenade findings, state-owned railroad company
PT KAI tightened its control of the tracks.

Spokesman for the company, Gatot Wibowo, said on Tuesday that
PT KAI had instructed all field officers responsible to double
check safety standard procedures.

"The officers have been told to always check not only the
tracks, but bridges and crossing lights," Gatot told The Jakarta
Post by phone from Bandung.

Gatot also said the company has raised the alert to its
highest level throughout all its operational areas across Java
and Sumatra. (04/ylt/tnt)