Police launch random checks for explosives on flyovers

JAKARTA (JP): City police are conducting random checks for firearms and explosives on flyovers and tollroads across the capital on Thursday, following two recent blasts, one under the Slipi flyover which claimed one life and the other under the Mampang Prapatan flyover.

The random checks were conducted by dozens of police officers armed with rifles on the Cawang tollroad, the Grogol and Tomang tollroads and the Slipi and Mampang Prapatan flyovers.

City police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Adang Rochyana said on Thursday that the measure was taken to tighten security on flyovers and tollroads.

"It's a necessary measure which police have had to take up, particularly considering what could happen on Friday and the special session of the MPR (the People's Consultative Assembly)," Adang told reporters on Thursday.

The Assembly is slated to convene a special session on August 1, which will likely lead to the impeachment of President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

Taxi driver Partopo of Tiffani taxi hailed the police operation as a good move to maintain security and prevent possible riots.

"Police were stopping private sedans and vans, politely asking passengers to step out of the cars while they searched the vehicles," Partopo told The Jakarta Post on Thursday evening.

A hand grenade thrown by a passerby, who may have been traveling in a vehicle or on foot, exploded on Sunday evening under the Mampang Prapatan flyover in South Jakarta.

Last Wednesday, a hand grenade exploded under the Slipi flyover in West Jakarta. In this incident, one man eventually died as a result of injuries sustained in the blast.

Meanwhile, city police arrested four men and declared them suspects on Thursday, in connection with the March 29 attack on striking workers of a car upholstery producer here, PT Kadera AR Indonesia (KAI), which left two workers dead.

Thursday's arrests were made, when police found two live explosive devices in the house of one of the suspects, in the Billy Moon housing complex in Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

"There are five suspects in all. Abdullah alias Memeh, 34, who was arrested and declared a suspect on Wednesday, for the explosive devices found at the office where he lives, which led us to the arrests of four other men," Adang told reporters.

Adang said that the four other men, who were arrested at 2 a.m. on Thursday, had worked as security guards at the Timor car factory in Karawang, West Java.

"One of the suspects, Abu Bakar, told us that he was paid Rp 300,000 by a TNI (Indonesian Military) soldier, identified as Chief Corporal Kino (still at large), to throw the homemade bomb," Adang said.

Adang indicated that these men were also likely involved in the recent blasts under the Slipi and Mampang Prapatan flyovers, and the June 19 bomb blast on Jl. Cikoko Barat III in Pancoran, South Jakarta. (ylt)