MPR Deputy Chief Proposes Renovation of Aging Ammunition Depots

Jakarta (Antara) - Deputy Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Hajriyanto Y Thohari has proposed that the Indonesian military (TNI) renovate its aging ammunition depots to avoid undesired thing. "The TNI should step up its supervision of the ammunition depots by improving their quality," he said in a short message text on Thursday. He was responding to Wednesday's explosion at the ammunition depot of the Navy's frog force command in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta. Some of the TNI's ammunition depots are old but they have not been renovated, he said. He said he was concerned about the blast. "The incident may create bad perception if the TNI does not explain the cause of the explosion to the public," he said. He said the blast may also cause the public to speculate on the cause of the explosion. Navy Information Division Chief Commodore Untung Suropati said on Wednesday the blast at the navy ammunition depot was believed to have been caused by explosive materials. Chief of the TNI Information Center Rear Admiral Iskandar Sitompul said that one frogman died following the blast that also injured 86 others. The local hospital has allowed 15 of the wounded to leave the hospital but 71 others still have to undergo further medical treatment. (*) Repoting by Riza Harahap