Army was not involved in 'Christmas Eve bombings'

JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on Thursday no Army members were involved in the Christmas Eve bombings in seven provinces across the country.

"I'll take stern action if any Army members were involved in the Christmas Eve bombings," Endriartono said on the sidelines of the postfast gathering at the Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.

"The Army is ready to help the police investigate the bombings," he said.

Endriartono's statement came only a day after Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Hanafie Asnan and TNI Commander Admiral Widodo A.S. denied any Air Force members or Navy members were involved in the bombings, which claimed at least 17 lives and left dozens of others injured.

Earlier, the police also dismissed speculation that the bombings were the work of Muslim extremists.

There has been a great deal of speculation that retired Army generals loyal to former president Soeharto were involved in the bombings.

When asked whether he would question the retired generals, Endriartono said it was the police's responsibility to investigate the matter.

"The retired generals do not belong to the Army anymore. But if the reports are true, I will summon all active Army members to consolidate and rid the force of the retired generals' influence," he said.

Meanwhile, National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro hinted on Wednesday the bombings were aimed at toppling President Abdurrahman Wahid.

The government has set up a special team to investigate the bombings, led by Bimantoro.

The team consists of officials from the police, the State Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Body, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General's Office.

In a related development, West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Yuyun Mulyana revealed on Thursday that two more key witnesses to the Christmas Eve bombing on Jl. Terusan Jakarta in Bandung were taken into custody at about 6 p.m. on Thursday in Sukabumi, some 50 kilometers from the West Java capital.

"The two, identified as Musa, 38, and Umar, 44, were captured at the Cimahpar II Housing Complex in the Sukaraja district of Sukabumi regency," Yuyun said.

Police detectives discovered two guns and five bullets plus an ax and a sickle when searching an office of a foundation belonging to Musa in Warungkondang, Cianjur regency.

The two are being detained at West Java Police Headquarters in Bandung pending further investigation.

"So far there is no lead that links the two directly to Roni Miliar and Agus Kurniawan," Yuyun said, referring to two suspects and prime witnesses in the bombing.

Meanwhile, a suspect in the bombing in Pangandaran, Ciamis, 31-year-old Dedi Mulyadi of Cilembang, Tasikmalaya, was transferred to Sartika Asih Police Hospital in Bandung from his detention cell at the Ciamis Police station.

Dedi suffered burns when a bomb that he was carrying while riding a Vespa motorcycle exploded on Dec. 24.

"He needs special treatment since he was injured by fragments from the bomb. Although he is injured, the prosecution will continue," Yuyun said.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Police Headquarters said it would train security guards at companies and offices in the capital how to deal with bomb threats.

"The training is free of charge. They (security guards) will be trained by officers from the National Police bomb squad how to recognize bombs and procedures to evacuate a location where a bomb is found," the secretary to the Jakarta Police's Public Relation Department, Adj. Comr. Alex Mandalika, said on Thursday.

He said, however, the security guards would not be trained to defuse bombs.

"Of course not, that is the police's job. It would take a long time to learn how to defuse a bomb," Alex said.

Companies and offices interested in the training can contact the Jakarta Police Information Division at 570-9250 or 527-4017. (02/25/edt/jun)