The recipients of the strange packages were among others The Jakarta Post, Detik.com, Kompas.com Okezone.com, Tempo, ANTV and RCTI. They were received at around 10.00 am local time.
Considering the sinister content of the packages, the recipients` first impression was that they were some kind of threat as there were the words "You are number ..." on the packages along with the "Rest in Peace" sign on the top of the coffin and the message "restinpeacesoon.com.".
As could be perceived from the number of packages, they had been sent by Rest In Peace Soon Company located at Unit 166, Jalan Asia Afrika Door IX, Senayan, Jakarta 10270.
Moments after the media went into a frenzy about the coffins` delivery, presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha stated the police must investigate the happening and the motive of the sender or senders.
Julian said the police must follow up the incident to find the perpetrator(s) as the coffins had been addressed to particular persons.
"We might see the investigation result from the police department or the authorities who will be following up the case on what is the intent or motive behind it," he said.
Julian said he had yet to report to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday morning`s coffin delivery to mass media organizations.
"I have not yet reported this incident, I just read about it earlier and find it somewhat surprising," he said.
He was also not able to say whether the coffin delivery from Jalan Asia Afrika, Senayan, was a form of terror or not, and advised the media to wait until the police had investigated it.
"There must be some explanation for all this, we have yet to know the motives," Julian said.
Is It a Terror?
On a separate occasion, House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso deplored the coffin sending to a number of mass media and said it was an act of terror.
Priyo told the press at the Parliament in Senayan that it was also a form of intimidation from an irresponsible party. Therefore the motives should be investigated.
"I regret the incident, this is a terror associated with the mystical world," said Priyo.
Priyo also said that there used to book bomb packages but this was a new mode in a mystical form by sending a coffin. "I urge the authorities to immediately disclose and investigate it," said Priyo.
"Let the mass media do what they do and it`s not necessary to be intimidated that way," Priyo said.
In dealing with the "Monday Coffin package" sending, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) urged the media that had received a coffin to report the case to the authorities.
"If the incident has violated their privacy, the case should be be reported to the police," said the Jakarta Police`s Public Information Section Head Commissioner Yossie Prihambodo.
Yossie said the police would follow up the reports of media that had received the coffins in order to investigate the motives and perpetrators.
"There must be a motive but it is probably not an act of terror," said Yossie.
Yossie said terrorists usually convey a message with a blast to occur in short time or send death threats with a specific purpose.
Whatever the coffin sender`s motive was, it had caused the media to go into a frenzy on Monday morning and left a big question mark as to who had done it and to what end or why.(*)
Reporter: Ageng Wibowo
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
