INDONESIA: JAKARTA: STOCK EXCHANGE BOMBING AFTERMATH скачать в хорошем качестве

INDONESIA: JAKARTA: STOCK EXCHANGE BOMBING AFTERMATH

(14 Sep 2000) Indonesian/Nat The death toll from the car bombing and fire at the Jakarta Stock Exchange rose to 15 on Thursday as speculation mounted that supporters of ex-dictator Suharto might be responsible. Frustrated that escalating violence is destabilising his year-old reformist administration, President Abdurrahman Wahid demanded quick arrests, even if it meant hauling in high profile individuals and military personnel. Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said Wahid had ordered Indonesia's military commander to join the police investigation. Earlier, National Police Chief General Rusdihardjo complained that his inquiries were being frustrated by some in the armed forces. Wednesday's blast rocked the capital's downtown financial district the day before a court resumed its hearing into corruption charges against Suharto, a retired five-star general who ruled Indonesia with military support for 32 years until violent demonstrations forced him to quit in 1998. Bombings have coincided with every major stage of a state investigation against the ex-president, but no arrests have been made. A bomb exploded in a bus just before his case went before the court two weeks ago. The proceedings resumed on Thursday, when a five-judge panel asked doctors whether the former leader, 79 years old and the victim of three strokes, is fit for trial. Suharto's lawyers refused to comment. Jakarta police said rescuers had recovered all bodies from the building's burned out and wrecked underground garage. At least 27 people were injured, some critically, in the attack. No one has claimed responsibility. The blast damaged or destroyed 400 vehicles in the three-level garage filled with cars and drivers waiting for their stockbroker bosses to finish work. Most of the dead suffocated in thick black smoke. Some were found in the charred remains of their vehicles. Smoke filled the exchange's trading room and other offices, forcing the evacuation of about 1,000 workers. The attack occurred without warning 45 minutes before the markets closed. Hours before the afternoon explosion, the stock market's main index hit a 12-month low. Trading was suspended on Thursday but might resume on Friday, exchange officials said. Indonesia's currency, the rupiah, slid in value in early trading on Thursday. Harry Su, head of research at stockbrokers BNP Prime Peregrine in Jakarta, said foreign investor confidence was fragile and could reach new lows in the wake of the blast. After briefing Indonesia's Cabinet on Thursday, Rusdihardjo described the attack as the work of "professionals." He downplayed suggestions that international terrorists were involved. On August 1, a bomb exploded outside the residence of Philippine Ambassador Leonides Caday, killing two people and injuring dozens, including the envoy. Indonesian officials blame Philippine Muslim extremists for that attack. SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian) "We should examine our security system --- how it works so we can prevent other unexpected incidents." SUPER CAPTION: Suryadi Sudirja, Minister of Home Affairs SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian) "We're trying very hard. We haven't solved some of the recent cases but with some of the older cases, we have been successful. " SUPER CAPTION: General Rusdihardjo, Indonesian Police Chief Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...