Bombs found in Ambon mosque<\/p>\n
Muhammad Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon<\/p>\n
Police have defused two homemade bombs found on Thursday
\noutside the Al Fatah grand mosque in the city of Ambon, renewing
\nfears of heightened tension that could threaten the fragile peace
\nin the province, which has been torn by years of sectarian
\nclashes.<\/p>\n
Maluku Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Noviantoro said the police
\nbomb squad had defused the bombs, which were found by the
\nmosque's janitorial staff at about 11:00 a.m.<\/p>\n
He said the bombs had been placed inside two pipes, each about
\n10 centimeters long with a diameter of 5 centimeters. Police are
\nstill in the dark about the motive.<\/p>\n
\"Some people are just not happy with the improving security in
\nMaluku after years of conflict,\" Noviantoro said.<\/p>\n
The discovery came amid fresh fear of rising tension in the
\nprovincial capital of Ambon, where Muslims and Christians have
\nfought each other for some three years.<\/p>\n
About half the population in Maluku are Christians. Since
\n1999, the fighting has claimed thousands of lives with an equal
\nnumber of victims on both sides.<\/p>\n
The warring sides agreed to end fighting in a Jakarta-brokered
\npeace accord, signed early last year.<\/p>\n
So far the accord has withstood the sporadic violence that
\ncontinues to erupt in Ambon and elsewhere in the province.<\/p>\n
Last January, the blast from a homemade bomb led to a riot
\nthat injured three people and damaged several vehicles.<\/p>\n
The head of Ambon's Religious Affairs Office, Hasyim
\nMarasabessy, said that mosques and churches were prone to
\nattacks, as they could easily spark anger in people.<\/p>\n
Police have so far been unable to identify or catch any of the
\nbombers, allowing the attacks to continue to provoke the masses.<\/p>\n
\"I am calling on the public to remain calm and not to let
\nthemselves be provoked by the finding of these bombs, so that we
\ncan maintain a conducive situation in Ambon,\" said police chief
\nNoviantoro.<\/p>\n
Despite the simmering threat of violence, security has
\nimproved since the signing of the peace accord.<\/p>\n
The government had imposed a state of civil emergency in Ambon
\nbut plans to revoke it, pending the election of a new governor to
\nthe province. No date has been set for the election.<\/p>",
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