The Jakarta Post, June 24, 2002
Two explosions rock Ambon over weekend
The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Two bombs exploded in separate locations in the city of Ambon on Saturday, shaking
the fragile peace in the troubled Maluku province.
No casualties were reported in the blasts.
The first explosion took place at 8 p.m. behind a building on the border between the
areas of Diponegoro and Urimesing. Two hours later, another bomb exploded in the
area of Ahuru.
No members of either the Christian or Muslim groups that have been involved in
violence in the province were found near either blast scene. Security personnel are
investigating who may have been responsible for the bombings.
Locals are urging the civil emergency administration to launch a province-wide sweep
to find those responsible for these incidents.
Meanwhile, the head of the civil emergency administration, Governor Saleh
Latuconsina, has extended until June 30 the deadline for people to surrender their
weapons. The arms surrender is part of the February peace deal signed in Malino.
"But weapons sweeps are ongoing. Those caught carrying weapons before the
deadline will still be brought before the law," he said.
The weapons sweeps, which had been halted by Ambon Military Commander Col.
E.H. Lubis, will be reactivated, Saleh said.
The spokesman for the Maluku administration, Izack Saimima, added that the
administration had decided to revive the midnight to 6 a.m. curfew, and to prohibit the
hanging of banners without approval.
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