The Jakarta Post, April 06, 2002
Two bomb blasts rock Poso, posing challenge to peace
PALU, Central Sulawesi (JP): At least two bomb explosions have rocked the Poso
district in troubled Central Sulawesi amid ongoing raids by local security authorities
implementing last December's peace accord.
Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto said on Friday that
the home-made bombs exploded in the disused office of state-owned water company
PT PDAM at Ratulene village, around 15 kilometers from Poso, on Thursday evening.
No injuries were reported in the consecutive bombings that blew out windows and
shattered floors in the building in the subdistrict of Poso Pesisir.
Agus said the blasts were heard at the Poso Pesisir police station near the scene,
adding that the bombs were of low explosive yield.
The first bomb exploded at 6:35 p.m. followed by the second 10 minutes later, he
said.
At least two unexploded bombs were discovered by a police bomb squad which
arrived one hour after the first explosion.
The team eventually managed to defuse the active bombs at the Poso district police
station.
National Police security operations chief Sr. Comr. Sunarto and Poso's deputy police
chief Comr. Yusmanjaya inspected thescene on Friday morning.
It was the second bombing in one month. On March 20 a bomb blast damaged the
Poso social welfare office on Jl. Pulau Kalimantan.
The first explosion was blamed on the alleged unfair distribution of food aid intended
for thousands of refugees who fled their homes during two years of sectarian fighting
in Poso.
It was not clear what motivated the latest blast. Local security authorities are
searching for the bombers.
There is speculation that the two separate attacks are linked.
Agus ruled out claims that the series of bombings showed ineffectiveness of the
disarmament operations that started in early February and were extended for one
month until April.
He said the raids remained effective and it was emphasizing that local people follow
their consciences and surrender their weapons.
More than 39,000 weapons, including firearms, hand guns, machetes, knives, bombs
and arrows, were handed in to authorities between December and February, while
only a handful of other weapons have been confiscated during raids.
To attract the sympathy of local people, Agus said, the disarmament raids involved
policewomen, though the operations were not being carried out by sweeping houses
and farm land.
He said the authorities had encouraged villagers to set up patrols in their respective
areas to prevent fresh attacks by rivals after the peace deal.
The fresh outbreak of violence has clouded last December's peace accord signed by
Muslim and Christian leaders. The warring sides agreed to stop the two-year conflict
that had killed thousands of people.
Agus also ruled out speculation that the explosion was linked with the outbreak of
violence in Ambon in the Maluku islands. A powerful bomb killed four people and
wounded 58 others in Ambon on Wednesday. The bombing was followed by the
burning of thegovernor's office. (erik)
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