Govt cautious on bomb threat

JAKARTA (JP): The government will maintain its vigil against any possible occurrences that might disrupt next year's general elections, the Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said yesterday.

"We will stay on the alert against any threats," Feisal told reporters after a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Military Police Corps at Senayan Eastern Parking Lot, in Central Jakarta, referring to a bomb threat at the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) on Monday evening.

However, he said the bomb threat was made by a prankster. "Anybody could create such a threat," he added.

National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo agreed with Feisal, saying that the bomb threat was the work of a hoaxer.

"See, the building is still there," Dibyo said, pointing at the 32-story building.

He said the situation in the city is safe.

Greater Jakarta Military Command Chief Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso said the hoax was made by an unscrupulous and irresponsible man.

He asked building managements to report quickly if they received bomb threats.

The JSX building management received three phone calls yesterday, one in the morning and two in the afternoon. The caller said that he had planted a bomb somewhere in the basement of the building.

Hundreds of JSX employees, including brokers and traders, were evacuated at 5 p.m. The management then reported the incident to the city police.

Three hours later, a bomb disposal squad, called Gegana, began searching for the bomb. The 12-officers of the squad combed all of the 32 floors for three hours. They found nothing suspicious in the building. (jun)