The Jakarta Post, January 11, 2006
Blast causes panic in Poso
Ruslan Sangaji, The Jakarta Post, Palu
An explosion occurred near a church in the religiously divided town of Poso, Central
Sulawesi, hours before Muslims observed Idul Adha, but there were no casualties,
police said on Tuesday.
Shortly after the blast on Monday night, a fire damaged government buildings.
However, it was not yet clear if the blaze was related to the explosion.
Insp. Gen. P. Purwoko, chief of the newly established joint Security Operation
Command for Central Sulawesi, said the blast went off at around 10:30 p.m. across
the street from the Sion church and the Poso administration office complex.
The incident, he added, caused panic among residents near the blast scene as the
explosion could be heard up to two kilometers away.
Purwoko said police investigators found a small amount of powder and a blank
detonator at the blast site.
"After a preliminary probe by a bomb squad, there was no indication of a bomb. What
has been found was merely a package of aluminum foil papers. There was no black
powder or a timer.
"So, the explosion has so far been suspected from firecrackers. But we remain on
alert," he said.
Hours later, a fire razed several government buildings, located some 20 meters away
from the blast, at around 1 a.m. early on Tuesday.
Purwoko said the fire began at the Poso archive agency's office and spread to the
neighboring buildings of the food regulating office, agriculture office and health office.
Police were probing the cause of the fire that could end up costing the local
administration billions of rupiah.
"Our investigation shows there is no indication of arson," Purwoko said.
Monday's blast was the latest incident to hit Poso and other parts of Central
Sulawesi, where Christians and Muslims live in roughly equal numbers.
On New Year's Eve, a bomb packed with ball bearings and the head of a mortar round
ripped through a stall selling pork in a traditional market. Seven people were killed.
In one of the most shocking attacks, three Christian schoolgirls were beheaded in
October by unidentified assailants.
The province saw fierce fighting between Muslims and Christians in 2000 and 2001,
resulting in the violent deaths of more than 1,000 people.
Full-scale conflict has since stopped, but mysterious assailants have continued a
campaign of bombings, shootings and other attacks on Christians.
Over 1,000 extra military troops and police were sent to Central Sulawesi in November
after religion-related violence escalated.
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