Seized grenades belong to a soldier: Sutiyoso
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)