Police say no arson in Sahid Jaya fire
Police say no arson in Sahid Jaya fire
JAKARTA (JP): Fire damaged the facade of the main building of
the five-star Sahid Jaya Hotel on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Central
Jakarta, on Monday evening.
No casualties were reported but many guests and hotel
employees scattered in panic.
The fire started at about 5:55 p.m. when part of the hotel's
neon name plate on the roof ignited, a witness said.
Hotel employee Jasari said part of the burning neon sign fell
to outside part of the third floor, burning cables and spreading
to the 21st floor.
"But it only burned the outside part of the hotel building,"
he said.
Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said there
was no sign of foul play.
"The fire was caused by a short circuit. There is no sign that
it was intentionally set on fire," Iman said.
Suspicion of arson was fanned because one of the meeting rooms
at the hotel, owned by businessman Sukamdani Sahid Gitosardjono,
was used by a group of 17 political activists and public figures
who issued "a joint communique" last Thursday.
It called for the establishment of a Provisional People's
Consultative Assembly and, eventually, a presidium which would
serve as a provisional government.
Most participants have been summoned by police for questioning
on suspicion of subversion.
A receptionist at the hotel confirmed that the hotel received
scores of unidentified telephone calls on Monday evening warning
the building would be set on fire.
Businessman Meilono Suwondo, a signatory to the communique who
has been questioned, told Antara on Sunday night that the fire
may have been the work of a particular group trying to intimidate
the hotel's management for accommodating political activities.
The hotel's resident manager, Victor Sitompul, said the damage
was still being calculated.
"Although there were no casualties, we have to keep our guests
comfortable. Guest occupancy was only 20 percent of 677 rooms
available here," he was quoted as saying by the news agency on
Monday.
The Central Jakarta Fire Department, using 12 fire engines,
extinguished the fire in about 15 minutes.
Police arrested two men for stealing electronic goods from the
hotel during the fire. (jun/ivy)