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‘Firecracker prank’ shocks presidential debate viewers
Amid the excitement of the second presidential debate, seven people were taken to hospital after someone threw a “firecracker” toward them while they were watching the debate on an outdoor screen on Sunday night, police said
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span>Amid the excitement of the second presidential debate, seven people were taken to hospital after someone threw a “firecracker” toward them while they were watching the debate on an outdoor screen on Sunday night, police said.
This was the first incident of unrest during a presidential debate. The first presidential candidate debate was held on Jan. 17. The next debate is scheduled for March 17. The campaign period ends four days ahead of the April 17 voting day. Police said they believed it was a “prank” using firecrackers.
Sunday’s explosion occurred in the east parking lot in Senayan, Central Jakarta, only 600 meters from the presidential debate location at the Sultan Hotel and only 50 m from the base camp of Seknas Jokowi, a volunteer support organization for the incumbent Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Ma’ruf Amin.
Seknas Jokowi’s chair for Greater Jakarta, Monisyah, said all victims, six of whom were treated briefly at nearby hospitals, were supporters of Jokowi.
“The explosion occurred at 8:15 p.m. shortly after I gave my opening speech [at the outdoor gathering]. only seven people were taken to the hospital, but 10 elderly women were shocked after the explosion,” Monisyah told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Monisyah said over 1,000 people had come to attend from all Seknas base camps in Greater Jakarta. All the victims who were taken to the hospital were members of different base camps, he said.
The person in charge of the event, Michael Umbas, said that of the seven victims, only one was still receiving medical treatment at the hospital, a 55-year-old woman, as she had a heart attack and a ruptured eardrum. While the others, including four treated at Pelni Hospital, West Jakarta, and two at Mintoharjo Navy Hospital, Central Jakarta, were sent home on Monday morning.
Michael said he believed the explosion was a form of terror targeting Jokowi supporters. However, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said the police believed that the explosion was a firecracker and no specific motives had been detected yet. He said the blast left no material behind, only 10- to 15-centimeter holes.
Argo said investigations were still ongoing as the police had examined 10 witnesses, including Jokowi supporters, and analyzed CCTV footage from the Gelora Bung Karno command center near the location. “We’re investigating this, including whether the firecrackers were thrown or deliberately placed [...] We cannot conclude the motive yet, but it seems like a usual prank,“ Argo said.
Argo also denied that the explosion was a result of a security breach. “We have carried out all security procedures,” he said.
Just like the first debate, Jakarta Police deployed four layers of security for the second debate.
The Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno campaign team spokesman Andre Rosiade said although the incident had occurred close to the debate venue, there had been no reports of victims who were Prabowo-Sandi supporters.
Andre added that the police should investigate this incident as soon as possible to maintain the harmony between the two supporters’ camps.
“Don’t let this disturbance break us apart. Whoever the victims are, we hope they recover as soon as possible,“ Andre said. (ggq)
