Three men arrested over Klender homemade bombs

JAKARTA (JP): The military confirmed yesterday reports that three men were arrested in Klender, East Jakarta, over the weekend on charges of making bombs and plotting a political maneuver.

Jakarta Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. DJ. Nachrowi said the military suspects the three are linked to an alleged bomb maker who was arrested in an apartment in Tanah Tinggi, Central Jakarta, in January.

"These three men, just like the one arrested in Tanah Tinggi, were allegedly members of the banned youth organization People's Democratic Party (PRD)," Nachrowi said.

Nachrowi declined to name the three suspects.

On Jan. 18, security officers arrested Agus Priyono at his rented room in a Tanah Tinggi apartment block and seized books, documents, diskettes, dozens of unfinished handmade bombs and materials believed to be used to make bombs.

The government banned the PRD last year and the group's senior leaders have been jailed on charges of subverting the state and attempting to topple the government.

Nachrowi said the three in Klender were arrested by his personnel on Friday night after a resident's tip-off.

Neighborhood chief Sucipto said the three were arrested in their home on the apartment's second floor.

"Dozens of plain-clothed intelligence agents came here that day, asking for information on the men," he told reporters Saturday.

Sucipto said one of the accused was arrested around 5:30 p.m and the other two at around 6:30 p.m.

"I heard that one of the two men possessed an Indonesian passport under the name of Sugianto," he said.

He said the agents had seized documents and bags containing remote control devices, chemical ingredients and handmade explosives.

"I don't know exactly how many bombs were found in the room. All I know is that the bombs shaped were like cubes," he said.

According to Sucipto, a fourth man also lives in the same room but he did not come home on Friday.

Sucipto said he did not know the names of the four because they had not reported themselves to him, although they had lived in the room for 10 days.

He said the room was owned by a doctor named Erli who had moved to Tangerang.

"As far as I know, the doctor has never met these men because they made the rent deal through the apartment management," he said.

Sucipto said he and the other residents were shocked when the agents raided the apartment and took the three away.

"We never thought they would become involved in crime or have bombs in their room. We never suspected them because they looked very nice and polite," he said.

According to Nachrowi, the case and the three suspects had been transferred to the City Police headquarters. "The police are now investigating the case," he said.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang, however, said yesterday that he had not been informed about the matter and refused to comment. (cst)