Paras Indonesia, 09, 08 2006 @ 09:22 pm
Poso Blast Amid Delayed Executions
Posted by: Roy Tupai
Parliament speaker Agung Laksono says this week's bomb blast that killed one
person in Poso, Central Sulawesi, was aimed at raising communal tensions and
should not be linked to the delayed executions of three Christian militiamen
sentenced to death for their role in sectarian massacres that hit the province six years
ago.
Laksono said police must find the masterminds of recent unrest in Poso and improve
law enforcement or there will be more violence. "Security personnel must be firm.
Don't let one bomb explosion be responded to by another bomb explosion," Laksono
was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara.
Over recent years Central Sulawesi has been hit by a series of mostly unresolved
bombings and grisly murders, generally targeting Christians. Some analysts have
speculated the latest bombing might be linked to the delayed executions of Fabianus
Tibo (61), Marinus Riwu (48) and Dominggus da Silva (42). The three were to have
been put before a firing squad on August 12 after being convicted of premeditated
murder and inciting deadly religious riots over May-June 2000 in Poso. But authorities
postponed the executions after Pope Benedict XVI sent a last-minute appeal to
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to spare their lives.
Radical Muslim groups accused the Vatican of interference in Indonesia’s domestic
affairs. In recent weeks there have been demonstrations by Muslims calling for the
executions to be carried out immediately, while Christians have rallied to demand the
men be spared on the grounds that authorities have failed to unmask the masterminds
of the Poso violence.
This week's bomb blast occurred at 10.15am Wednesday in Tangkuran village killing a
farmer, Jhon Tobeli (50), who was from the neighboring village of Sanginora. The
explosion took place at a hut near a farmhouse that was abandoned by its owner
following the 2000 sectarian conflict.
Tobeli and his wife Rosses Sancu had been traveling by motorcycle to Poso to
purchase supplies, when they stopped at the empty hut, which was on stilts, so
Tobeli could urinate beneath the structure. As he was urinating, the bomb exploded,
killing him instantly. Poso Police chief Rudi Sufahriadi said the bomb was
low-explosive and homemade.
Laksono said that although the blast should not be linked to the debate over Tibo and
his associates, the government should have them executed because they have been
denied a presidential pardon.
"This is all due to prevailing doubts over security implementation in Poso," he was
quoted as saying by detikcom online news portal. "I think it must be seriously
investigated. Do not link it to the Tibo issue. If it is left ignored there would be a
reciprocal blast," he said.
Some Islamic figures have claimed the bombing was an attempt to tarnish the image
of Muslims, as it took place just two days after a large demonstrations by Muslims
calling for the execution of Tibo. Several of the demonstrators used swords to hack
effigies of Tibo to pieces.
People's Consultative Assembly speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid said Thursday the police
must put a stop to the network responsible for acts of terrorism in Poso. "The real
actors of the Poso bombings must be be immediately caught. If they are not caught it
will be easy for them to repeat their scenario," he said.
He said the bombings in Poso were a direct challenge to Indonesian law enforcement.
"These bombings should not make upholders of the law frightened to perform law
enforcement," he said, adding the acts of terror should not be allowed to harm the
image of Islam.
"This must be expressed to have peace for the community. Whoever the perpetrators
are, they must be brought to justice."
National Police spokesman Bambang Kuncoko said the latest bombing was an effort
to create the impression that Poso is unsafe. He denied the blast was linked to the
Tibo case and expressed hope that people will not be provoked by the attack.
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