Army was not involved in 'Christmas Eve bombings'
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)