- Title: INDONESIA: Indonesians upset over hotel blasts in quiet Jakarta
- Date: 18th July 2009
- Summary: NEWSPAPERS
- Embargoed: 2nd August 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Indonesia
- Country: Indonesia
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVADPQBDAS4ADBQ542MKXMDFM5EF
- Story Text: Indonesians express sadness and disgust over the twin blasts in Jakarta hotels as the capital city remains quiet a day after the suicide bombings.
The Indonesian capital of Jakarta was quiet early Saturday morning (July 18) a day after near simultaneous bombs ripped through two luxury hotels, killing at least eight and injuring 52, in the heart of the city.
Traffic was light but security tight around the JW Marriot and Ritz-Carlton hotels, both popular with visiting international businessmen, where suicide bombers struck early Friday (July 17).
Yellow police lines ringed the hotels and policemen patrolled the area although they allowed people to lay wreaths and bouquets.
Police said the bombers had checked in to the Marriott as paying guests on Wednesday (July 15) and had assembled the bombs in their room. A third bomb was found and defused in a laptop computer bag on the 18th floor.
The Marriot was previously bombed in 2003, allegedly by the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) militant group which was also blamed for bombings on the island of Bali in 2002 that killed 202.
"This is not the first time this has happened as there was a blast in the Marriot previously. We feel the insecurity because there is a fear of more blasts in the future," said Sulis, a 30-year-old office worker visiting the scene with her family.
Police kept a strict watch over the visitors as some took the opportunity to capture the scenes on their mobile phones and cameras.
All Indonesian newspapers carried headlines about the blasts which also led to the cancellation of English soccer team Manchester United's match against an Indonesian team on Monday.
The English team was due to stay at the Ritz Carlton.
"I think what happened yesterday has put Indonesians to shame. We were waiting for the Manchester United team to arrive but what has happened shows the government cannot take care of their security," said Sitompul as he read details of the blasts from a newspaper.
Most Jakarta residents rushed to buy newspapers to get more details of the blasts.
"I am very sad, the people are very sad. Those who committed the crime are very bad people." Nanang said after buying the morning papers Police said they have begun investigations into the attack.
Eight Americans were among the wounded in Jakarta and police said other casualties included citizens of Indonesia, Australia, South Korea, the Netherlands, Italy, Britain, Canada, Norway, Japan and India.
Many of those hurt in the Marriot blast were attending a high-powered business breakfast organized by the consulting firm CastleAsia.
Witnesses said the bombings at the Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton were minutes apart and it appeared both had occurred inside the hotel restaurants during breakfast.
An Australian security report on Thursday had said Jemaah Islamiah was poised to strike again. Authorities in neighboring Malaysia, where the group also has roots, said they were stepping up security at government buildings, shopping malls and hotels.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute said leadership tensions in Jemaah Islamiah and recent prison releases of its members raised the possibility that splinter groups might now seek to re-energize the movement. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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