Political leaders urge police to solve bomb attack
Damar Harsanto and Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Cirebon
Police are being pressured to solve Monday's bomb attack on the House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly in Central Jakarta on Monday.
Assembly chairman Amien Rais told reporters Tuesday that police must find those behind the attack ahead of its Annual Session from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10.
"This incident is much simpler than the Bali bombings. Police must be able to unravel the case immediately," he said in Jakarta.
House speaker Akbar Tandjung also called on police to find the suspects and the motive behind the bombing.
"This incident is a wake-up call for us to remain alert," he said during a visit to Buntet Islamic Boarding School in Cirebon Regency, West Java.
Akbar also asked police to beef up security at the compound prior to the session.
"Nowadays, people can easily access the compound as the security checks are very lax. It (the security system) must be tightened."
Akbar said the House had set up a team to increase security in the compound. It would be chaired by a member of the Indonesian Military (TNI)/Police Faction and would liaise with police.
"In the meantime, security for the plenary session is our priority."
Contrary to the calls, security remained lax at the compound on Tuesday. People were not searched if they activated metal detector systems when entering the compound.
Police said they had made little progress in the investigation.
A police source said they had quizzed Sugeng, a security guard at a construction project close to the blast site.
Sugeng parked his motorcycle several meters from the blast site on Sunday night. He returned to take his motorbike at 6 a.m. on Monday, 90 minutes before the explosion.
"He saw two men near the site but he could not identify them because they were too far from where he was standing."
National Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Erwin Mappaseng said results from the National Police Forensic Laboratory showed the presence of PETN, a high explosive substance often used as a detonator.
The low-yield device, a pipe bomb measuring 50 centimeters in length and 12 centimeter in diameter, contained a black powder and sulfur. Police also found a 12-volt battery and a timer at the blast site.
The blast ripped through the rolling door of the central air- conditioner control room at the Nusantara IV building in the compound and shattered windows around the blast site.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. No injuries were reported.
The explosion came less than 24 hours after police warned of possible terror attacks following the arrest of nine alleged members of regional terrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) last week.
JI is allegedly chaired by Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is currently being tried at the Central Jakarta District Court for treason.
Erwin said police were still examining documents seized during the arrests, including alleged plans to assassinate four senior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) members.
Namely, deputy secretary Pramono Anung, deputy chairman Roy BB Janis, Jacob Tobing and J.E. Sahetapy.
Erwin said police would be ready to provide special protection for the legislators.
Akbar said that several members of the house had arranged private security.
Meanwhile Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi said 23 of the 26 bombs prepared by JI members had been planted in various lcoations and ready to be activated.
"Twenty-three of the bombs had been planted and ready to be activated at the targeted places," Didi said as quoted by Antara.
He added that the police uncovered the plot after officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) reexamined the explosives seized during a raid at a house in Semarang last week and the questioning of JI suspects arrested during the raid.
Didi declined to reveal the 23 places targeted by JI members.