By Angela Marie Watkins
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
JAKARTA, Indonesia – Suicide bombers struck the JW Marriott hotel and close-by Ritz-Carlton, two luxury hotels popular with businessmen and diplomats, in Jakarta’s main business district during early Friday morning.
Police said eight people died, revising down an earlier count of nine, and over 60 were injured. On Saturday it seemed the toll had been raised again to nine, including the two suicide bombers. Seven foreigners were among those killed in the blasts.
The casualties included citizens of Indonesia, the United States, Australia, South Korea, the Netherlands, Italy, Britain, Canada, Norway, Japan and India.
The blasts are a severe blow for Southeast Asia’s biggest economy and for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who was re-elected earlier this month in a landslide victory on the back of restoring peace and strong growth to a country with the world’s largest Muslim population.
Police have not said who they believe is responsible for the blasts, but suspicion has fallen on remnants of Jemaah Islamiah, the militant Islamist group responsible for a string of attacks in Indonesia in the first half of the decade.
Police said on Friday the bombers had checked in to the Marriott as paying guests on Wednesday 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 Obama administration on Friday said the suicide bombings of the luxury American hotels in the Indonesian capital were proof of the need to remain vigilant against terror groups.
“These attacks make it clear that extremists remain committed to murdering innocent men, women and children of any faith in all countries,” the White House said in a statement.
For more information, please see:
The Associated Press – Administration: Jakarta bombing reminder of threat – 17 July 2009
Reuters – Seven foreigners were killed in Jakarta hotel bombs – media – 17 July 2009
The Washington Post – Suicide bombers kill 8 at Jakarta Marriott, Ritz – 17 July 2009
