Seized grenades belong to a soldier: Sutiyoso

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso said yesterday the three grenades confiscated by police detectives and security officials last week belonged to a member of the military.

Sutiyoso denied that the grenades, taken from the homes of three civilians on Feb. 9 and Feb. 15, were to have been "taken to the Takbir Akbar mass gathering on Feb. 8" which was attended by government officials, including President Soeharto.

The gathering, highlighting the end of the Moslem fasting month of Ramadhan, was held at the National Monument park.

Sutiyoso said his office had new information about the grenades. This contradicted earlier police claims that they had had a tipoff that someone planned to take the grenades to the gathering.

"Those three grenades belong to a soldier. That's the truth," he said after inaugurating the city's national security alert posts overseen by the North Jakarta military command.

"I am telling you again now, the grenades were not to be used to disturb the occasion," he said.

Late last week, City Police Detective, Col. Paimin Aboeamr. said police had arrested three civilians -- Saleh Abdulah, 37, Abdul Aziz Umar Madhie, 31, and David bin Poniman, 32 -- for illegally possessing the South Korean Frag Delay K75 type grenades.

According to police, Abdul and David knew Saleh and got the grenades from him. Saleh and Abdul had also admitted they planned to attend the Takbir Akbar at the National Monument park.

Meanwhile, City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said yesterday it was too early to say who the grenades really belonged to as police were still investigating the case.

"We cannot say the grenades belong to a soldier nor can we say that those who had them planned to take them to the National Monument park when we have not finished the investigation. We adopt the principle of presumption of innocence, remember?," Hamami said.

Sutiyoso insisted, however, that a soldier had carelessly entrusted the explosives to the three men.

"Sometimes a soldier might become so negligent that he lets civilians keep his grenades for him," he said.

Responding to questions about the likely sanctions to be imposed on the officer, Sutiyoso said, "Of course. Needless to say firm measures will be taken against any member of the military whose negligence places the general public at risk."

Alert Center

Sutiyoso also said yesterday the City Military Command had begun operating the Alert Center yesterday. The center is to anticipate possible riots in the run up to the general election.

The creation of the centers was first announced by President Soeharto last month, when receiving managers of cooperatives owned by Islamic boarding schools.

Sutiyoso called for the public to pass information to the Alert Centers if they knew anything that could trigger a riot.

"Just dial 122," Sutiyoso said after inaugurating the center at the North Jakarta Military District headquarters.

He said people also could send information by mail to the 122 PO box.

He guaranteed the center would not overlap with the Jakarta Agency for the Coordinating of Support for National Stability. The alert center would not take over the police's job either, he said.

The center was staffed by personnel from the district military, police precinct, and the community, he said. (jun)