Police search for clues in shooting at DPR building

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Police are trying to find clues left behind in the shooting at a window at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday afternoon, the city police chief of operational control said.

Col. Soenarko said on Monday that the shot was made at a window, in a corridor leading to the House Commission V for trade and industry, manpower, cooperatives and investment, on the first floor of the 23-story building.

"We have collected the broken glass... the case is still under investigation," Soenarko said.

"The shooting was reported to the police at 2:05 p.m. on Monday. We have no idea of the exact time when this shooting occurred... we are still trying to gather witnesses."

The shooting occurred at the same time members of the House Commission V were holding a hearing with former president Soeharto's youngest son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, over alleged manipulation of clove farmers' money at the now defunct Clove Marketing and Buffer Stock Agency (BPPC). Tommy was the chairman of the agency.

Witnesses said they heard a blast and spotted a crack in the window just a couple of minutes after Tommy and his friends passed the alley and entered the room where the hearing session was being held.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung expressed shock over the shooting, saying that it was most probably an attempt to terrorize legislators.

"This shooting is very worrying. Connecting this to earlier attempts ... incidents to terrorize House members, this shooting is definitely a way to intimidate House members," Akbar said.

He said that he had already told the police that the security around the House complex must be enforced and that House members needed added security.

"I have also asked police to investigate this shooting, and to reveal the hidden motive behind it," Akbar said.

He admitted that security at the building was lax, and that with the increasing number of protesters visiting the House, additional security was a must.

"We will soon limit the number of protesters who will be allowed to visit this building," he said.

Legislator Bachtiar Chamsyah from the United Development Party (PPP) supported Akbar's opinion that the shooting was politically motivated, and that it was related to the shooting at an office of his fellow legislator, Suryadharma Ali, in February.

"It's not a coincidence. The shooting was intentional," Bachtiar, also a member of House Commission V, said.

He was speaking in reference to a bullet which was fired through the window of Suryadharma's office on the 16th floor of the same building on Feb. 7.

The rifle that fired the bullet was not from a standard military rifle, according to Lt. Col. Budi Rahmat, chief of the Central Jakarta Military Command.

"The bullet was 9 millimeters, which is the size of the barrel of a Steyr rifle. It's not a standard military rifle," Budi said earlier.

"The gunman must have used a Steyr hunting rifle to shoot at the legislator's office."

Earlier, two men attempted to murder National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Matori Abdul Djalil, a deputy People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker, by striking the back of his head with a machete at his residence at the Tanjung Mas Raya housing complex in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, on March 5.

Police have so far arrested one suspect, and are searching for two others.

Bachtiar said the "terror" would not influence legislators into becoming less critical in examining several problems, including questioning Soeharto's son Tommy.

"We will continue to be outspoken, including against Tommy," Bachtiar added. (jun/ylt)