Four detained over alleged plan to bomb mall

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso confirmed yesterday that his officers detained four men for allegedly attempting to plant a bomb at Kelapa Gading Mall in North Jakarta.

"The four are believed to belong to a group who always tries to cause trouble in the capital, with the ultimate goal of disrupting the general election," Sutiyoso said after attending a mass prayer for the election scheduled tomorrow.

Sutiyoso said the four men were allegedly part of a group trying to engineer riots in major business centers throughout the city.

The military investigators had monitored the men's activities over the last few days, he said.

City Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. Djazairi Nachrowi said the men were arrested at a parking lot at the shopping center yesterday.

Nachrowi said the arrest was made possible after officers from the North Jakarta Military District were curious about the men, as they were suspiciously wandering around the shopping center early in the morning.

"We confiscated stones and gasoline from them," he said. The men were alleged to have tried setting fire to the shopping center.

However, the officers did not find any Molotov cocktails or other bombs which were believed to have been planted in the shopping center, Sutiyoso said.

Nachrowi said the military was still investigating the case. "We will soon send the men to the police as soon as we finish the investigation."

Sutiyoso urged people not to be disturbed by the arrest, because the military is determined to maintain public security.

"Don't worry, just go to your polling booths. We will guard your safety," he said.

Sutiyoso further explained that about 25,000 officers, including 12,000 policemen, would be deployed to safeguard the election in the capital.

By comparison, similar deployment at the end of the campaign period on Friday reached 20,000 officers.

Certain areas receiving extra security will mainly be business centers, Sutiyoso said.

Meanwhile, City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said the deployment of 12,000 police officers was primarily aimed at safeguarding the 21,419 polling stations throughout Greater Jakarta.

To enable those in hospitals and prisons to vote, mobile stations will be provided for them, City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said.

"For instance, those detained at City Police Headquarters will be catered to by polling officers from the Senayan subdistrict in Kebayoran," he said. (jun/ste)

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