Man throws bombs at Sutiyoso's home

JAKARTA (JP): An unidentified man lobbed two Molotov cocktails at the security post of the official residence of Governor Sutiyoso in Menteng, Central Jakarta, late Monday night, partially burning the brick structure.

As of late yesterday, police were still searching for the man, believed to be in his 30s. Security guards had reportedly shoved him shortly before the incident after he parked his Suzuki Escudo vehicle on the sidewalk in front of the governor's house.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna believed no political motive was involved and the man was merely retaliating for the shoving match.

"Judging from the crime scene, the man did it probably because he was so upset with the security guards who asked him to move from the site.

"But the real motive can only be revealed later if the suspect is already in our detention."

Sutiyoso claimed yesterday he was unaware of the attack, saying none of the six on-duty security guards had reported the incident to him.

"Come on... it is an ordinary case. Maybe it was done by a drunk," he commented lightly.

Iman said the incident occurred at about 11 p.m. at the residence at Jl. Taman Suropati 7 in the exclusive area which also includes the official residences of several ambassadors.

The man had left after the parking dispute at the request of three of the guards, two civilians and a military officer from the cavalry unit, Iman said.

"Fifteen minutes later, he returned in the same car and was observed stopped for a while near the residence of the Indian ambassador, before throwing the Molotov cocktails at the post."

Iman said the devices were a glass liquor bottle and a plastic mineral bottle, both filled with gasoline.

He said the glass bottle shattered shortly after it hit the post and partly torched the tiny structure.

"Soon after that the guards heard a minor explosion and a fire started in the security post."

The man sped off in the vehicle, but guards noted part of its license plate number of B 2132.

"I just had a glimpse of the car. I was busy trying to put out the fire," Rusyanto, one of the guards, told police.

Rusyanto and his five colleagues have been questioned by the local police.

The governor's official residence is built on a 2,000-square- meter plot.

Sutiyoso moved into the house in November, a month after he became governor. (edt/ivy/ind)