ASSOCIATED PRESS, Thursday April 4, 2002
Indonesian Police Question Seven Over Deadly Ambon Blast
AMBON, Indonesia, April 4 (AP)--Seven people were being questioned Thursday in
connection with a deadly blast that killed four people in Ambon city, as police and the
military stepped up security to avert further violence between Christians and Muslims.
Meanwhile, a community leader warned that Wednesday's bombing in the
Christian-controlled part of the city could be the first of many attempts to undermine a
fragile peace accord between the two communities.
Up to 9,000 people have 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.
In February, rival Christian and Muslim factions in Maluku signed a peace agreement
that provides for the disarming of militias and allows for the return of refugees to their
homes.
Wednesday's attack was the most serious breach of the government-sponsored
ceasefire.
"We are in a critical phase," said The Rev. Izaac Hendriks, a Protestant leader in the
Malukus.
"If incidents like these keep occurring, it will be difficult to rebuild people's trust," he
said. "There is great potential to return to the zero point."
Thirty-nine people injured in the blast remained hospitalized on Thursday, medical
workers said.
Police said they were questioning seven people in connection with the attack, which
occurred in a commercial zone frequented by both Muslims and Christians. Officers
refused to divulge the identities of the suspects.
No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing. However, Muslim extremists
belonging to the Laskar Jihad militia have vowed to disrupt the peace process in the
province of two million people, northeast of the capital Jakarta.
Meanwhile, residents in Ambon resumed their daily routines, with most shops open
and people returning to work. Soldiers and policemen armed with automatic weapons
patrolled the streets.
Streets leading to the governor's office - which was partially burned on Wednesday by
a crowd of angry Christians - were blocked off. A charred restaurant and damaged
hotel near the site of the explosion also attracted curious onlookers.
Government officials took pains to reassure residents that they remained committed
to the peace accord known as the Malino Agreement.
"There are people who don't want to accept the Malino peace declaration," said
Provincial Governor Saleh Latuconsina. "Our commitment is still with Malino."
Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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