Bomb hoaxes are 'political ploys'

JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo hinted yesterday that all the bomb threats and rumors of riots were the ploy of a certain group which had its own political agenda.

"These activities have tended to be politicized. The group must have certain political interests on their mind," he said.

"They would not do such things if they did not have any particular interests."

He refused to identify the group but said police had identified some people, who are believed to have made bomb threats.

As of yesterday, at least 14 bomb hoaxes have been reported to police since last month after threatening phone calls were made to office buildings and public facilities.

He said the callers were traced following an intensive police investigation into the Jan. 18 bomb blast at a Tanah Tinggi apartment in Central Jakarta.

He declined to reveal the identities of the callers or say whether they were linked to the group of people allegedly responsible for the Tanah Tinggi explosion.

"Even if I knew, I would never tell you."

He said the callers were serious in their mission and there was no other possible motive for their actions other than a political agenda.

The group members would not spend their time repeatedly starting and whipping up rumors if it was not a political ploy, Dibyo said. (cst)