APSN Banner

Bomb explodes in Jakarta

Source
Kyodo - January 19, 1998

Jakarta – A bomb exploded in an apartment in a central Jakarta slum area Sunday night, local residents and police said Monday, while a top military official accused a left-wing party unrecognized by the government as being behind it.

Officials said police have found several bombs in the apartment but only one exploded, injuring three people, one seriously.

The three, police said, are believed to be members of the Democratic People's Party (PRD), a left-wing party unrecognized by the government. The seriously injured member was arrested but the others managed to escape.

"The incident occurred after Muslims broke their fast in the evening on the day," a resident told Kyodo News.

Indonesia's Muslims have been undergoing a monthlong fast from dawn to dust since the end of December.

Several police officials said the bomb exploded in an apartment room in Jakarta's Tanah Tinggi slum area. Police have found documents believed to belong to the PRD at the site, they said.

Army chief of staff Gen. Wiranto was quoted by Antara news agency as saying the PRD was behind the incident. He also said the PRD is the regeneration of the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party.

Last year, the government declared illegal the PRD and organizations associated with it as they had failed to name the state ideology Pancasila (five principles), and the 1945 Constitution as their political guidelines.

One month after the PRD's establishment July 22, 1996, nine of its leading members were arrested for allegedly sowing public hatred against the government.

The accusation stemmed from their involvement in a riot following the takeover of the headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party by the military and police.

The nine – all in their 20s – were recently sentenced to between 18 months and 13 years in prison for subversion, with party leader Budiman Sudjatmiko receiving the longest term.

Country