ASSOCIATED PRESS, Wed Apr 3, 7:17 AM ET
Car Bomb Kills Four in Indonesia
By CHRIS BRUMMITT, Associated Press Writer
AMBON, Indonesia (AP) - A car bomb exploded in the capital of Maluku province on
Wednesday killing four people and injuring 43, in the first major violation of a
cease-fire signed in February to end years of Muslim-Christian violence.
The blast shattered windows of a hotel and caused extensive damage to a shop and a
restaurant in a Christian-controlled part of the port city of Ambon, police chief Lt. Col.
Noviantoro said.
Following the explosion, a group of Christians forced their way into a government
compound. They razed the governor's office before police intervened and dispersed the
crowd.
"There was an incredible loud boom and people ran in panic," said Yopi Lappe, a
street vendor. "Then I fell unconscious and woke up in hospital."
No one claimed responsibility for the bombing. However, Muslim militants belonging to
the paramilitary group Laskar Jihad have vowed to disrupt the peace process in
Indonesian province of two million people, located 1,600 miles northeast of the capital,
Jakarta.
Up to 9,000 died and tens of thousands were forced to flee their homes in two years of
fighting in the archipelago, known as the Spice Islands during Dutch colonial rule.
Rival Christian and Muslim factions in Maluku signed a government-sponsored peace
agreement in February that provides for the disarming of militias and allows for the
return of refugees to their homes.
On Wednesday, dozens of grieving relatives crowded into Ambon's hospital searching
for their loved ones.
"It was a powerful explosion," said Bagus, a police intelligence officer who like many
Indonesians uses only one name. "The perpetrators obviously had training."
Previously, Indonesian officials said they were encouraged by the success of the
peace process and indicated that some of the thousands of soldiers and police
deployed to the province would be pulled out soon.
Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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