Bombings rock Poso, shattering peace<\/p>\n
Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar<\/p>\n
The quest for long-lasting peace and security faces another
\nserious test in Poso as a spate of recent bombings rocked the
\nonce-ravaged Central Sulawesi town on Sunday night.<\/p>\n
Local officials said on Monday that the house of Poso
\nlegislative council speaker Murad U. Nasir was one of the targets
\nbombed in the latest incident at around 11 p.m.<\/p>\n
There were no reports of casualties, but the explosion
\nseverely damaged Murad's kitchen and the rear of his house.<\/p>\n
Similar blasts also took place in several other locations
\nacross the town.<\/p>\n
\"At least eight bomb explosions occurred last night (Sunday
\nnight) in Poso,\" Yus Mangun, chairman of the Central Sulawesi
\nlegislative council's commission B, told The Jakarta Post in
\nMakassar, South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
\"This incident has shocked us and given us serious cause for
\nconcern,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Yus Mangun, a provincial councillor representing Poso, said he
\nreceived a report of bombings from various parties in his town,
\nincluding his colleagues, shortly after the incident.<\/p>\n
He confirmed that no casualties were reported.<\/p>\n
The legislator warned that the series of recent bombings could
\ndestabilize the area's security and shatter peace in Poso. \"We
\ncondemn the incidents because it has heightened anxiety among
\nlocal people,\" he added.<\/p>\n
However, Central Sulawesi administration secretary Samijono
\nsaid the recent bombings would not undermine efforts to promote
\nreconciliation in Poso between warring Muslims and Christians,
\nwhich was signed eight months ago in the South Sulawesi town of
\nMalino.<\/p>\n
\"The small-scale blasts are not likely to disrupt the peace
\nprocess,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Poso has been largely calm and security has been significantly
\nimproved despite sporadic cases of explosions and attacks
\nfollowing the peace accord.<\/p>\n
The latest bombings occurred one day after Muslim figure
\nSukirman, who had been missing for two days, was found
\ndecapitated on Saturday.<\/p>\n
On July 12, a bomb blast destroyed a bus in Poso, killing an
\n18-year-old woman and injuring four others, including the bus
\nconductor.<\/p>\n
At least 11 other people were killed and many others wounded
\nin previous bombs that had gone off between June and January.
\nHundreds of kiosks were badly damaged when a market in Poso was
\nalso bombed.<\/p>\n
It is believed the recent attacks were launched by groups from
\noutside Central Sulawesi. An extreme group from Java was found to
\nbe conducting military-style training in a remote part of Poso
\nduring the sectarian conflict.<\/p>\n
A dozen Army's Special Force (Kopassus) personnel specializing
\nin intelligence were deployed to the town three weeks ago.<\/p>\n
Central Sulawesi Military Commander Col. Suwayuhadji said the
\nelite troops had been tasked with investigating the presence of
\nforeign troops linked to the recent bus bombings and several
\nfatal shootings there.<\/p>\n
\"Their duty is to make sure peace in Poso is restored as soon
\nas possible,\" Suwayuhadji said, adding the deployment was ordered
\nby the Indonesian Military Headquarters.<\/p>",
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