Tempo Attacked Following Police Fat Assets ReportTempo Interactive, Jakarta: Two small explosions took place hours before dawn today (6/7) at Tempo Magazine office in Central Jakarta at the height of dispute between Tempo and police over the recent report on police suspicious assets.
Security guards at the Tempo said three molotov cocktails were hurled from outside the gate of Tempo office on Jl Proklamasi at about 2:40 am, which exploded at the parking area and the facade of Tempo building.
No casualties or injuries, fire was quickly contained by security guard who saw two persons arriving on a motorcycle seconds before the bombs were hurled. Police arrived minutes after the attack was reported.
Editor in Chief of Tempo, Wahyu Muryadi said “We condemn the attack which bears characteristics of terror,” which he said could be launched by those who don't like the option of mediation in dispute settlement between the Tempo and the police.
Report of police huge suspicious assets presented in last week's edition of Tempo which prompted bulk purchases of the edition by unidentified persons from major distributors cutting down distribution line to the public hours before the magazines suppose to reach paper stalls.
Extensive report on the bulk buying later forced the police confessed that the most commonly bribed institution had been insulted by the cover art of the edition, and threatened legal measures against Tempo.
Yesterday the government, through the Coordinating Ministry for Politics, Law, and Human Rights cancelled the lawsuit and said police will settle the matter through mediation facilitated by the Press Council.
AKBAR TRI KURNIAWAN | WDA | SUSENO