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Bomb
at DPR/MPR compound to send terror message, police
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The
Jakarta Post
July
15, 2003
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Bomb at DPR/MPR compound to send
terror message, police
Damar Harsanto,
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Less than 24 hours after the police
chief warned the public of the possibility of acts of terror, a
bomb exploded at the compound of the House of
Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly in Senayan, Central
Jakarta, on Monday.
The explosion was also a wake-up
call for the police, who enjoyed a victory just two days ago when
they arrested nine suspected members of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) in
Jakarta and Semarang.
The high explosive bomb, which
exploded at 7:30 a.m., ripped through the rolling door of the
central air-conditioner control room at the Nusantara IV building
and shattered windows 75 meters away. The device was packed with
shrapnel, including 15-centimeter nails, which police later found
scattered 100 meters from the blast site.
No one has claimed responsibility
for the bombing. No fatalities or injuries were reported.
The compound was quiet since the
House members are in recess.
"It is a warning to us that
bomb threats still loom despite our success in arresting many
terrorist suspects," Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul
Padmanegara told reporters at the blast site.
During Friday's arrest of suspected
JI members, the police confiscated arms, ammunition, explosives
and documents. One of the suspects apparently committed suicide
during interrogation.
Makbul had said earlier that
suspected terrorists had targeted public places, places of worship
and planned the assassination of public figures, as indicated in
documents police obtained including a list of MPR members.
The United Nations has listed JI as
a terrorist network. JI is also believed to be responsible for the
Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, and other bomb attacks in
the country.
Alleged JI leader Abu Bakar
Ba'asyir is on trial at the Central Jakarta District Court for
treason and immigration violations.
Makbul said the police had yet to
determine whether the blast was the work of JI.
National Police spokesman Sr. Comr.
Zaenuri Lubis warned that around 3,000 JI members, who obtained
battle experience in Afghanistan, remained free.
He said the figure was given by a
JI member, identified as Dedy, who was arrested earlier in Ciamis,
West Java.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i
Bachtiar said that the explosive used in Monday's blast was
similar to the one that exploded in Terminal F of Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport and another on Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Central
Jakarta behind the UN building, both in April.
"However, it doesn't
necessarily mean that the suspects behind the bombing are the
same," he said when visiting the scene.
Police originally blamed the Free
Aceh Movement (GAM) for the April blasts. GAM has denied any
involvement.
A police detective on the scene
criticized the security system in the House compound, saying it
would be difficult for police to find out who planted the bomb.
He also lambasted the security
guards, who apparently rarely patrol the area around the blast
site "because it is dark".
"We only have witnesses who
heard the explosion. We haven't found any witnesses who saw
suspicious material or persons," he said.
Agus, a security guard at the
compound, said there were only eight guards on duty when the
explosion occurred. Another eight guards were assigned to
safeguard the House's top leaders.
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung
admitted that security in the compound was poor and said he would
ask for extra security from police.
"We plan to add more 25
security guards," he said.
Editorial page 6
.PL .RM Major bomb attacks in
Jakarta
Date Venue Casualties Status
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb. 3, 2003 Wisma Bhayangkari,
National one injured bomber formerly
Police Headquarters, S. Jakarta in
police
bomb squad
Apr. 24, 2003 Jl. Wahid Hasyim
behind the UN no injuries unresolved
representative office, Central
Jakarta
Apr. 27, 2003 Departure Terminal F
at 11 injured unresolved
Soekarno-Hatta International
Airport
July, 14, 2003 The House of
Representatives and no injuries unresolved
People's Consultative Assembly
compound
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