Govt cautious on bomb threat

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)