Police have lead on bomb suspects

JAKARTA (JP): Police appear to be a long way from finding those responsible for Monday's bomb blast at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque, but said on Tuesday they had visual identifications of two men seen speeding from the scene.

"Based on information from witnesses, police have identified the physical appearances of the suspects. We only need to further develop the identifications before making any arrests," city police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman said on Tuesday.

After the blast on Monday, police questioned about a dozen people, including security guards and parking attendants at Jakarta's largest mosque.

Sketches of the two men's faces were then developed, the two- star general said.

Two men, riding on a black RX-King motorcycle, were spotted by parking attendant Nur Akhmad hastily leaving the mosque compound shortly after the explosion.

The two sped toward Petojo, where the witness lost sight of them in the traffic on one of the city's busy areas in Central Jakarta.

Police did not give details about the type of explosives used, saying it was more important to concentrate on solving the case than reveal the chemical makeup of the explosives.

"If we can arrest the culprits, we'll surely uncover their work. So let's finish our job one step at a time," Noegroho said before a meeting with Greater Jakarta's Muslim figures.

The Islamic leaders were invited by Noegroho on Tuesday to brief the police on the various Islamic groups in the capital.

A leader of the Indonesian Committee for Islamic World Solidarity (KISDI), H.A. Sumargono, said: "We'll reveal to Pak Noegroho the groups (we know of) that may have been responsible for this act."

Manarul Hidayat, chairman of the Ittihadul Muballighin organization, however, stressed that the bombing was not aimed at Islam or Muslims, but at stirring further chaos in the country.

"The suspects are not necessarily Christians or people of religions other than Islam," he said, adding that Muslim leaders would be responsible for calming people so they are not easily provoked.

On Tuesday afternoon, visitors continued to arrive at the 38- year-old mosque designed by the late Frederik Silaban, a Christian.

No tight security was seen around the mosque, and people entered and left the compound unchecked. However, trucks of soldiers were deployed to guard the Cathedral Church across from the mosque.

Security was tightened in other major buildings, including City Hall and the City Council complex.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi instructed the city's five mayoralties to be on alert and to give hourly reports on security developments to City Hall.

Bomb threats

As people waited on Tuesday for the latest news on the investigation into the mosque blast, two bomb threats, which turned out to be hoaxes, were received at the 19th century Cathedral Church, and another at state television station TVRI later in the afternoon.

The telephone threat at the church was received at 10:30 a.m. by Yanti, an administrative employee in the church, who immediately notified the Gambir police station.

After a 45 minute search, the bomb squad had found nothing suspicious and declared the threat a hoax.

Father Wisnu at the church said the female caller did not give any details as to where the bomb was placed in the church.

"Yanti asked her where the bomb was located, but before she could finish her question, the caller hung up," Wisnu told reporters.

The bomb squad, who left the church compound at about 2 p.m., later were called to TVRI on Jl. Gerbang Pemuda in Senayan, Central Jakarta, after receiving news that the station had also received a bomb threat.

Again, the squad declared the telephone call a hoax after failing to find anything suspicious.

Shop owners at the Mangga Dua shopping center said the Istiqlal incident and the bomb hoaxes were beginning to scare Chinese entrepreneurs.

Yohannes Haryanto, a clothing exporter, said on Tuesday: "No entrepreneur, no investor will want to work in the country if the Indonesian government and the Armed Forces (ABRI) cannot secure this country."

"This blast has scared us, so don't be shocked if this center closes down during the elections," he said.

Nince Anggono, another exporter who also has a clothing retail shop in the shopping center, said it was rumored all shops there would close down from May 1.

"If it does happen, I will be the first to close my shop. I might as well get out of the city," Nince said, who did not say where she would go.

"It's just too dangerous here," she said.

Stanley, a board member of PT Duta Pertiwi, which manages the Mangga Dua and ITC shopping centers, said: "Many of my friends have flown away. This is just not done... The police and the military must take immediate action." (ind/emf/ylt)