25 July 2009

Jakarta Media Crisis Center, in operation since Friday last week (17 July 2009), that provides latest development on the investigation of JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels bombings for national and foreign media, is moved back to the office of Public Relations Department of the Indonesian Police today (25 July 2009). Located in Bellagio Mall, Kuningan, the Jakarta Media Crisis Center, is officially closed down.

Before closing Jakarta Media Crisis Center, Governor of Jakarta Special Capital Region (DKI Jakarta) Fauzi Bowo said, ”Hopefully, in the future, we do not have to open Media Crisis Center for bombing tragedy and we expect our city not being held hostage by terrorists. Now we must complete our own tasks, the police will work in the Indonesian Police headquarter, while DKI Jakarta staff do the work in the office of provincial administration.”

When Governor Fauzi Bowo opened Jakarta Media Center in cooperation with Indonesian Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri, he said, ”The purpose of the Media Crisis Center is to deal with information coming from the police and to prevent disinformation following the July 17 tragedy.” Governor also said that the Media Crisis Center is a place for all stakeholders including entrepreneurs and ministers to speak directly with local and foreign media.

”I can see at the media center, all Indonesians are united and talk with one voice, condemning the suicide bomber. Clerics in Jakarta, various religion leaders and the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Sri Mulyani, all of them agree that Indonesia refuses be held hostage and refuses to be frightened by these criminals,” said Governor.

Furthermore, Governor said,”I want to say to the journalists, i apologize for any shortcomings. We open the media center as fast as we can on 17 July after the bombing and full-heartedly fulfill your information needs. We note inadequacies and learn from them.”