LAKSAMANA.Net, October 22, 2003 11:57 PM
Blast in Makassar, Explosives Found in Palu
Laksamana.Net - A small bomb exploded in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on
Wednesday (22/10/03), while police in Central Sulawesi have reportedly discovered
600 kilograms of explosives.
The Makassar blast occurred outside a jewelry shop and caused minor damage to the
sidewalk.
The explosion occurred during US President George W. Bush's brief visit to Bali.
Police denied there were any links between the visit and the blast.
Last December, a bomb killed three people in a McDonald's restaurant in Makassar.
Authorities have charged 16 suspects with involvement in the attack. Nine have now
been sentenced, although the alleged mastermind – Agung Hamid – remains at
large.
Prosecutors have said some of the suspects have admitted to membership in the
Laskar Jundullah Islamic militia group and received explosives training in the
Philippines.
Police have said the motive of the McDonald's attack was to make a symbolic
anti-American strike. US fast-food franchises in Indonesia have often been the target
of protests and attacks by radical Islamic groups over recent years.
Explosives Found
State news agency Antara reported that police on Tuesday discovered 24 bags of
explosives at a rented house belonging in Talise, East Palu, Central Sulawesi.
The 600 kilograms of South African-made ammonium nitrate was reportedly owned by
Basir (34) and Ilham (35). The two men, both from Makassar, had been staying in the
rented house for the past two months.
Central Sulawesi was hit by waves of deadly violence earlier this month, with masked
gunmen killing 12 Christians in Morowali and Poso districts.
In response to the violence, police have shot eight suspected attackers and arrested
another eight.
The attacks had raised concerns of a return to the Muslim-Christian violence that left
about 1,000 people dead in Poso over 2000-2001 until a government-sponsored truce.
This week authorities replaced Poso district's police chief and military commander.
Senior Commissioner Abdi Dharma on Wednesday replaced Senior Commissioner
Budi Astono as Poso Police chief.
Central Sulawesi Police chief Brigadier General Taufiq Ridha ordered Dharma to
immediately restore public order and security in Poso and Morowali.
On Tuesday, chief of the 1307 District Military Command in Poso, Lieutenant Colonel
Kurnia Dewantara, was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Ray Gunawan.
Dewantara was made chief of the 1304 District Military Command in Gorontalo, North
Sulawesi.
Chief of the 132 Tadulako Regional Military Command, Colonel M. Slamet, ordered
Gunawan to monitor developments in the security situation and prevent further
outbreaks of violence.
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