'House blast a terror message'
'House blast a terror message'
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Less than 24 hours after the police chief warned the public of
the possibility of acts of terror, a bomb exploded at the
compound of the House of Representatives/People's Consultative
Assembly in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday.
The explosion was also a wake-up call for the police, who
enjoyed a victory just two days ago when they arrested nine
suspected members of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) in Jakarta and
Semarang.
The high explosive bomb, which exploded at 7:30 a.m., ripped
through the rolling door of the central air-conditioner control
room at the Nusantara IV building and shattered windows 75 meters
away. The device was packed with shrapnel, including 15-
centimeter nails, which police later found scattered 100 meters
from the blast site.
No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing. No
fatalities or injuries were reported.
The compound was quiet since the House members are in recess.
"It is a warning to us that bomb threats still loom despite
our success in arresting many terrorist suspects," Jakarta Police
chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanegara told reporters at the blast
site.
During Friday's arrest of suspected JI members, the police
confiscated arms, ammunition, explosives and documents. One of
the suspects apparently committed suicide during interrogation.
Makbul had said earlier that suspected terrorists had targeted
public places, places of worship and planned the assassination of
public figures, as indicated in documents police obtained
including a list of MPR members.
The United Nations has listed JI as a terrorist network. JI is
also believed to be responsible for the Bali bombings, which
killed 202 people, and other bomb attacks in the country.
Alleged JI leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is on trial at the
Central Jakarta District Court for treason and immigration
violations.
Makbul said the police had yet to determine whether the blast
was the work of JI.
National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Zaenuri Lubis warned that
around 3,000 JI members, who obtained battle experience in
Afghanistan, remained free.
He said the figure was given by a JI member, identified as
Dedy, who was arrested earlier in Ciamis, West Java.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said that the
explosive used in Monday's blast was similar to the one that
exploded in Terminal F of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
and another on Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta behind the UN
building, both in April.
"However, it doesn't necessarily mean that the suspects behind
the bombing are the same," he said when visiting the scene.
Police originally blamed the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) for the
April blasts. GAM has denied any involvement.
A police detective on the scene criticized the security system
in the House compound, saying it would be difficult for police to
find out who planted the bomb.
He also lambasted the security guards, who apparently rarely
patrol the area around the blast site "because it is dark".
"We only have witnesses who heard the explosion. We haven't
found any witnesses who saw suspicious material or persons," he
said.
Agus, a security guard at the compound, said there were only
eight guards on duty when the explosion occurred. Another eight
guards were assigned to safeguard the House's top leaders.
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung admitted that security in the
compound was poor and said he would ask for extra security from
police.
"We plan to add more 25 security guards," he said.
Editorial page 6
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Major bomb attacks in Jakarta
Date Venue Casualties Status
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb. 3, 2003 Wisma Bhayangkari, National one injured bomber formerly
Police Headquarters, S. Jakarta in police
bomb squad
Apr. 24, 2003 Jl. Wahid Hasyim behind the UN no injuries unresolved
representative office, Central
Jakarta
Apr. 27, 2003 Departure Terminal F at 11 injured unresolved
Soekarno-Hatta International
Airport
July, 14, 2003 The House of Representatives and no injuries unresolved
People's Consultative Assembly
compound