The Jakarta Post, May 08, 2007
Fifth bomb found in Central Maluku fails to explode
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
A package suspected of being a bomb was found Monday at the Central Muluku
regency office in the regency capital of Masohi -- but this time the package consisted
of a cable circuit linked to a tin can full of sand, rather than any explosive material.
Central Muluku citizens in Ambon have suffered four bomb explosions in the last three
months, the last of which was set off at a public bus terminal and injured six people.
The Masohi package was found at 3 a.m. by an officer who said he spotted an
unidentified man at the site.
The officer said he chased the man but could not catch him.
Erwin Hatuina, a civil servant at the Central Maluku regency's general affairs unit,
confirmed the finding of the package.
A team from the Central Maluku police arrived at the incident site at 7 a.m. to
investigate the case but business went on as usual at the regency office.
Civil servants attending a routine flag hoisting ceremony at the front of the office
remained unaware of the bomb threat.
Chief of Maluku Police Brig. Gen. Guntur Gatot Setyawan said the discovery of the
suspicious package was meant to terrorize local people.
"The motive is the same as the earlier bomb explosions in Ambon -- to create a state
of fear," he said.
Guntur urged locals not to be easily provoked by any public discourse around the
bomb threat.
He further disclosed recent police investigations had led to those responsible for the
last two bombs set off in Ambon.
Police laboratory findings confirmed the same shrapnel had been used in the Ambon
explosions at Yos Soedarso port and Mardika bus terminal, he said.
"We have not been able to disclose all the findings because (the incidents) are still
being investigated.
"The most important thing is that it has already led to the perpetrators of the
explosions," he said.
Guntur also said the police would continue investigating all incidents of terror and that
they confident they would find those responsible.
"But the investigation will run out of order if all the details are disclosed now," he said.
The latest Ambon explosion occurred on April 25 and was set off between two
shopping blocks on a four-meter-wide street serving the eastern parts of Ambon.
The street is deserted of people at night but was busy with passing vans when the
bomb exploded, injuring six people.
Ambon was ravaged by sectarian conflict between Muslims and
Christians for three years from January 1999, but the violence was ended following the
signing of the Malino peace agreement in 2002.
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