Police Do Not Admit Ownership Of Smoke Grenades At Monas, So Who Owns Them?

JAKARTA - The police are still investigating the explosion incident that occurred in the National Monument (Monas) area, on Tuesday, December 3 yesterday. There is still no clear light on who and where the item called the smoke grenade police got in the Monas park area.

The police denied the rumors that the smoke grenade belonged to a police officer who was left behind while guarding the 212 reunion at Monas on Monday morning. Even though the location of the park, which is directly opposite the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), is often the title place for police forces to gather.

Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Yusri Yunus, confirmed that the results of the interim investigation showed that neither defense equipment nor property belonging to the Police were left at the scene. "Nobody has police, who says they have police? Not there," said Yusri in Jakarta, Wednesday, December 4

Yusri explained that when providing security during the 212 reunion action, all Polri members on duty were ordered not to carry firearms or other explosives. "Nothing at all," said Yusri.

Regarding the statement made by the Jakarta Police Chief, Inspector General Gatot Eddy Pranomo, who claimed that the source of the explosion was caused by a smoke grenade, it cannot be further confirmed. Because it is still an initial hypothesis from the police regarding the source of the explosion.

To prove this, the Forensic Laboratory Team (Labfor) is still examining the pieces that have been collected from the scene. Later, after a thorough examination, the police will definitely convey the incident of the explosion which injured two members of the TNI on behalf of Serka Fajar and Praka Gunawan.

"So the provisional assumption is that it is a smoke grenade. But to prove it, there must be proof that is currently being tested by the Forensic Laboratory. Testing of the debris found at the site," said Yusri.

Until now, the police are still investigating the cause of the explosion that occurred in the Ring 1 area of the Palace. Moreover, the location of the explosion is not far from the Merdeka Palace or other vital places such as the Supreme Court (MA) building and the Ministry of Home Affairs office which is located on Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara.