DATE=8/2/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA / BOMB AFTERMATH (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265043
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Indonesian authorities have stepped up security
in the capital, Jakarta, after a bomb exploded
Tuesday, killing at least two people and injuring the
Philippine ambassador and 18 others. As Patricia
Nunan reports from Jakarta, some senior political
figures held a small peace rally to condemn the
incident.
TEXT: Indonesia's national police chief says officers
have been ordered to go through hotels in the
Indonesian capital to - as he puts it - "check" on
guests, especially those from the Philippines. It is
not clear whether guests will be questioned or whether
police will simply examine hotel registries.
Extra security has also been posted around diplomatic
missions.
The moves are part of authorities' efforts to increase
security after a bomb went off Tuesday. The blast
virtually destroyed the car carrying the Philippines
ambassador to Indonesia, outside his official
residence. Ambassador Leonides Caday is now in stable
condition in a Jakarta hospital.
It is still unclear who planted the bomb. Police say
it is possible someone was trying to create a climate
of fear ahead of next week's meeting of the People's
Consultative Assembly -- Indonesia's highest
legislative body.
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid says he
believes the bombing is linked to the Philippine
government's efforts to stamp out an Islamic rebellion
in the southern Philippines region, Mindanao.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is fighting
for a separate Islamic state in the Philippines,
released a statement denying it had set the bomb.
Another Muslim extremist group -- the Abu Sayyaf --
which is holding several hostages, including
foreigners, in the southern Philippines -- has not
claimed responsibility. Both groups have declared a
holy war against the Philippine government.
But a senior Philippine official said Wednesday the
bomb could have been a result of a personal grudge
against Ambassador Caday.
Police say they are still investigating possible
motives.
/// TRAFFIC NOISE, IN AND UNDER ///
Meanwhile a group of some 50 demonstrators held a
peace rally outside the residence of the Philippines
ambassador -- now surrounded by high fences and
increased security forces.
Demonstrators placed flowers and placards in a crater
left by the bomb. The placards called for people to
"save democracy and stop violence and terrorism."
An adviser to former Indonesian President B-J Habibie,
Ms. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, condemns what she describes as
a "horrifying" incident.
/// ANWAR ACTUALITY ///
We Indonesians are peace loving. We have shown the
world that we are in process of building democracy. We
will not spoil and destroy our democratization because
of violence.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Ms. Anwar criticized the government of President Wahid
for allegedly allowing this type of violence to take
place. (signed)
NEB/HK/PN/GC/WD
02-Aug-2000 04:53 AM LOC (02-Aug-2000 0853 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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