DATE=9/13/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA-BLAST (L)
NUMBER=2-266441
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// EDS: New reports suggest the cause is two car
bombs. When confirmed, update intro as needed and cut
optional material. Also keep an eye on changing
casualty totals and update the intro as warranted. ///
INTRO: The Jakarta Stock Exchange was rocked by a
powerful explosion Wednesday that killed at least one
person and injured at least 23 more. Police suspect it
was a bomb, but military officials have suggested it
may have been accidental. But, whatever the cause, as
VOA Southeast Asia correspondent Gary Thomas reports,
any explosion is bound to spark anxiety in Indonesia
these days.
TEXT: The workday was nearing its end at the Stock
Exchange when a powerful explosion rattled the multi-
story building in central Jakarta. More than one-
thousand people were evacuated from the complex, which
also houses offices of the World Bank mission to
Indonesia. /// OPT /// An unknown number of people
remained trapped inside. /// END OPT ///
Building workers were taken to local hospitals, where
most were treated for burns and cuts.
/// OPT /// Smoke billowed from an underground parking
garage where some witnesses say the explosion
occurred. One witness reports seeing an explosion
near the building's generator. The building had
suffered several power outages during the day, but
that is not an unusual occurrence in Jakarta. /// END
OPT ///
Whatever the cause of the explosion, nerves were
already taut in the Indonesian capital. Jakarta has
been hit by a spate of unsolved bomb attacks.
Security worries have been further heightened because
of the trial of the country's former president.
In August, a bomb went off outside the Philippines'
ambassador's residence, killing two people. Bombs
have also gone off at the attorney-general's office
and the offices of several other organizations. Bomb
threats have been made to the U-S Embassy, the central
bank, and some upscale apartment complexes.
And an unexploded bomb was discovered outside the
courthouse where former President Suharto is being
tried on corruption charges. Authorities have voiced
concern that supporters of the former president might
try to cause unrest either through street
demonstrations or terrorist attacks.
Officials suspended trading at the Stock Exchange
after the explosion, and it is expected to remain
closed for at least several days. (signed)
NEB/HK/GPT/JO/PLM
13-Sep-2000 08:12 AM EDT (13-Sep-2000 1212 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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