LAKSAMANA.Net, December 24, 2003 02:06 AM
Bomb Blast in Poso
Laksamana.Net - Amid warnings of possible terror attacks on churches over the
Christmas and New Year period, a bomb exploded on Tuesday (23/12/03) in Poso,
Central Sulawesi province, but there were no fatalities.
The bomb, packed in a plastic bag, was discovered by local resident Mince Muda
inside a public bus traveling between Poso and Lembomawo, state news agency
Antara reported.
The bus driver then pulled over and put the bomb near a soccer field and the
Lembomawo village administration office, but the device exploded when the local
police bomb squad arrived to examine it.
Poso and surrounding districts have been hit by a series of bomb blasts and religious
killings over recent months.
An estimated 1,000 people were killed in sectarian violence in and around Poso over
2000-2001. The government sponsored a peace deal in December 2001 that largely
put an end to the carnage, but intermittent killings have continued and about a dozen
Christians were killed in November 2003.
In South Sulawesi province, police announced Tuesday that 2,800 officers will be
deployed in the provincial capital Makassar to protect 80 churches and public facilities
over Christmas and New Year holidays.
Makassar Police chief Senior Commissioner Jose Rizal Effendi said the officers would
be posted at churches, hotels, shopping malls and markets.
He said each church would be guarded by three or four policemen, assisted by a
number of military personnel.
On Christmas Eve 2000, regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah bombed 11
churches and priests’ houses across the country, killing 19 people.
Although many of the bombers have since been jailed, bomb-maker Dr Azahari bin
Husin and other Jemaah Islamiyah members remain at large and in possession of
explosives.
Copyright © 2000 - 2002 Laksamana.net, All Rights Reserved.
|
