Bomb-making materials found at Tegal firecracker factory

Bomb-making materials found at Tegal firecracker factory

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Tegal, Central Java

Investigators have discovered bomb-making materials at a
firecracker plant in Tegal, Central Java, that was destroyed in
an explosion last Saturday, Tegal Police chief of detectives,
Adj. Comm. Ahmad Zulfikar, said on Monday.

Ahmad said forensic experts from the Central Java Police found
several drums at the factory containing bomb-making materials --
magnesium aluminum and potassium nitrate.

The officer, however, fell short of saying that the plant,
owned by Edy Sukamto, alias Kam Hok Seng, 45, and Kosasih, 60, a
retired Navy colonel and former Tegal legislature speaker, was
producing bombs.

The magnesium aluminum was found in 50-kilogram drums and the
potassium nitrate was discovered in 25.2-kilogram containers,
Ahmad said.

Magnesium aluminum and potassium nitrate are two explosive
materials commonly used in making bombs.

Edy Sukamto and Kosasih, who have been declared suspects in
the explosion at the plant and are currently being detained at
the Tegal Police Headquarters, reportedly told police
investigators they obtained the explosive materials from a
Jakarta-based company that imported them from China.

According to Ahmad, the two declined to provide details about
their business, and would only say that the explosion was an
unforeseen tragedy that was a risk of their business.

At least 16 people were killed and nine others seriously
injured when an explosion ripped through the firecracker plant
last Saturday. Police have yet to determine the cause of the
explosion, and they have not yet filed any charges against the
two suspects.

Kosasih reportedly secured a license for the plant three years
ago, but the plant did not begin operation until eight months
ago, employing 90 workers.

Central Java Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Dodi Sumantiawan
said the plant obtained an operating license from his office, but
did not yet have a permit to produce firecrackers. He also said
the plant would not be closed down because it had an operating
license.

Separately, Balapulang district chief Wiryono told reporters
he never received a copy of the factory's operating license.

Tegal Regent Soediharto was unavailable for comment.

Firecrackers are officially banned in Indonesia, but they are
commonly used in rural areas to celebrate weddings, circumcisions
and other festivities.