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)