The Jakarta Post, March 14, 2003
Bombs found in Ambon mosque
Muhammad Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Police have defused two homemade bombs found on Thursday outside the Al Fatah
grand mosque in the city of Ambon, renewing fears of heightened tension that could
threaten the fragile peace in the province, which has been torn by years of sectarian
clashes.
Maluku Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Noviantoro said the police bomb squad had
defused the bombs, which were found by the mosque's janitorial staff at about 11:00
a.m.
He said the bombs had been placed inside two pipes, each about 10 centimeters long
with a diameter of 5 centimeters. Police are still in the dark about the motive.
"Some people are just not happy with the improving security in Maluku after years of
conflict," Noviantoro said.
The discovery came amid fresh fear of rising tension in the provincial capital of
Ambon, where Muslims and Christians have fought each other for some three years.
About half the population in Maluku are Christians. Since 1999, the fighting has
claimed thousands of lives with an equal number of victims on both sides.
The warring sides agreed to end fighting in a Jakarta-brokered peace accord, signed
early last year.
So far the accord has withstood the sporadic violence that continues to erupt in
Ambon and elsewhere in the province.
Last January, the blast from a homemade bomb led to a riot that injured three people
and damaged several vehicles.
The head of Ambon's Religious Affairs Office, Hasyim Marasabessy, said that
mosques and churches were prone to attacks, as they could easily spark anger in
people.
Police have so far been unable to identify or catch any of the bombers, allowing the
attacks to continue to provoke the masses.
"I am calling on the public to remain calm and not to let themselves be provoked by
the finding of these bombs, so that we can maintain a conducive situation in Ambon,"
said police chief Noviantoro.
Despite the simmering threat of violence, security has improved since the signing of
the peace accord.
The government had imposed a state of civil emergency in Ambon but plans to revoke
it, pending the election of a new governor to the province. No date has been set for the
election.
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