Homeland Security

DATE=7/14/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-305379

TITLE=INDONESIA / BLAST (S ONLY)

BYLINE=GARY THOMAS

DATELINE=BANGKOK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A small bomb has exploded at the Indonesian parliament building

in Jakarta. There were no casualties and the damage was light.

Nevertheless, as V-O-A correspondent Gary Thomas reports from our

Southeast Asia Bureau in Bangkok, the incident brings the specter of

terrorism to the heart of Indonesian politics.

TEXT: The small bomb detonated in the early morning, shattering windows

and a scarring a wall in the parliament building, but doing little other

damage.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

Parliament was in recess at the time, so it is not clear how stringent

security was in the parliament building.

Bombings have become increasingly frequent across the vast Indonesian

archipelago.

Authorities last week arrested nine people and seized a cache of

explosives that police said were to be used for a bombing campaign by

Islamic militants.

Two bombs that went off in the tourist haven of Bali last October killed

202 people. More than 30 Islamic militants have been arrested in

connection with the attack.

Since then, several small explosions have taken place in Jakarta

and elsewhere. Authorities have blamed separatists from the western

most province of Aceh for the attacks. (signed)

NEB/HK/GPT/JO