Another bomb found in Medan, car wrecked by blast in Nganjuk
Another bomb found in Medan, car wrecked by blast in Nganjuk
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Acts of terror following another
bomb attack in Medan on Tuesday escalated after another explosive
device was found near the city and a vehicle was destroyed in a
suspected grenade explosion in the usually quiet town of Nganjuk,
East Java.
The fifth explosive device in three days found in North
Sumatra was discovered just outside Medan at dawn on Tuesday near
the Trans Sumatra Highway in Lubuk Pakam, Deli Serdang, some 28
kilometers northeast of Medan.
The 60-centimeter long, 30-kilogram device was found lying on
the side of the road in front of an automobile showroom by a
passerby.
A team of policemen led by Lubuk Pakam Police chief Lt. Yusuf
Sutejo arrived to secure the device and transport it to a local
police station.
A police bomb squad was called in from Medan to defuse the
explosive. No statement could be obtained from police about the
device.
The province has been rocked by a spate of bomb attacks. On
Sunday a bomb exploded in a Protestant church, injuring 47
people. Two other bombs which did not detonate were discovered in
two other churches.
On Monday, another blast occurred in front of a restaurant,
injuring three.
Following the string of incidents, North Sumatra Police chief
Brig. Gen. Sutanto held a special meeting on Tuesday with
Protestant preachers to calm the situation.
He reminded them that North Sumatra was commonly used as a
barometer for inciting riots in the country and pointed to
incidents in May 1998.
"I am sure, with adequate awareness and faith, we can
safeguard our territory from provocateurs," Sutanto said.
The escalating terror did not stop in Medan. In Nganjuk, a
blast destroyed a Suzuki minivan with Yogyakarta license plates.
One of three passengers were killed in the blast.
Another passenger is in critical condition while the other
apparently fled.
Police have identified the injured only as Asmi, 32.
How the explosion occurred remains a mystery. The police have
voiced hope that Asmi will recover and explain the incident.
East Java Police chief of detectives Col. Suharto claimed the
explosion was caused by a grenade or some type of ammunition
friction inside the vehicle.
Suharto said it was believed the vehicle was heading for
Surabaya or Surakarta.
The police say they found pieces of grenade fragments and
discovered that the minivan was transporting grenades and
hundreds of rounds of bullets.
Suharto declined to speculate on the cause or motive behind
the blast, saying that it was still under investigation by the
bomb squad and forensic team.
"Police will try to get more information from Asmi. We have
already contacted Asmi's wife in Yogyakarta," Suharto said as
quoted by Antara.
Awareness
Amid the persistent unrest and escalating acts of terror
griping the country, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm.
Widodo A.S. said in Jakarta that security forces everywhere must
increase their awareness and be prepared to anticipate rapid
security changes across the country.
"To every TNI soldier, wherever they are, I order you to watch
carefully and follow every development in the field so you will
be prepared to move immediately," Widodo said as quoted by Antara
Widodo also warned soldiers to exercise self-restraint in
handling matters and told them they must follow the correct and
proper procedures, including following the chain of command.
Soldiers must not act impulsively to every incident, he said.
He further remarked that soldiers must also trust the police
force to maintain law and order.
Widodo underlined that TNI would not tolerate any anarchic
actions, especially against TNI members, and urged police to take
stern measures against parties trying to disrupt the peace in the
country.
"By all means, such action cannot be tolerated anymore because
it costs the public and the country. Everybody has to realize
that tension will only cause insecurity and corrode state life,"
Widodo added.(39/dja)