Government undeterred by attacks<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The death toll in the wave of Christmas eve bomb
\nattacks rose to 16 on Thursday as the government said it was
\nunruffled by the terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
\"We are ready to face terrorist attacks... we should not be
\nintimidated by anything because they are aimed at destabilizing
\nthe government,\" President Abdurrahman Wahid was quoted by his
\nspokesman Wimar Witoelar.<\/p>\n
Wimar said Abdurrahman, who has called the bomb attacks
\n\"barbaric\" and \"politically motivated\", admitted the current
\nchallenges \"really stabbed\" his government.<\/p>\n
Martinus, 16, became the latest casualty of the attack as he
\ndied at around 1 a.m. while undergoing intensive medical care at
\nthe St. Vincentius A Paulo hospital in the East Java capital of
\nSurabaya. The boy suffered from severe wounds in the blast that
\nrocked the Santo Yosef Catholic Church in the neighboring town of
\nMojokerto.<\/p>\n
The body of Martinus was buried in Mojokerto later in the day.<\/p>\n
Umar Kasan, who headed the medical team for Martinus, said the
\nteenager's injuries were too serious for him to survive.<\/p>\n
\"His condition was quite critical because of severe wounds and
\nresulting complications. Besides, he lost too much blood,\" Umar
\nwas quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
The doctor said Martinus suffered burns to his chest, head and
\nother parts of his body.<\/p>\n
Martinus had undergone surgery to remove shrapnel from his
\nbody and was scheduled to have a second operation before he died,
\nUmar said.<\/p>\n
A member of Nahdlatul Ulama civilian militia (Banser),
\nRiyanto, was killed hours after the blast that damaged the
\nCatholic church.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the six remaining people injured in a series of
\nblasts in Mojokerto are still under intensive medical care.<\/p>\n
Altogether 118 people were wounded in bomb blasts that
\nexploded in or outside churches in 14 cities across the country.
\nThe attacks were condemned by both Christian and Muslim leaders.<\/p>\n
Wimar said Abdurrahman was being kept up to date every six to
\n12 hours with \"field reports\" of the investigation from National
\nPolice chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro.<\/p>\n
\"Many names have come to the surface,\" Wimar added, declining
\nto elaborate.<\/p>\n
\"There are (no names) that can be quoted at the moment...
\nfirst because I have no knowledge of them. Secondly, the police
\nchief has to pick the right time to announce the names because he
\nhas to double-check them first.\"<\/p>\n
Based partly on the almost-simultaneous timing of the blasts,
\nAbdurrahman has said he believed the bombers were well-
\ncoordinated, well-funded and used to working together.<\/p>\n
Defense minister M. Mahfud MD concurred. Speaking to the press
\nduring a post-fasting get-together at his private residence in
\nYogyakarta, Mahfud said a group belonging to the New Order regime
\nunder former president Soeharto had masterminded the bombings.<\/p>\n
\"Judging from the modus operandi and the well-coordinated way
\nthe attacks were conducted, I believe there are powerful people
\nfrom the New Order behind the bombings,\" Mahfud said.<\/p>\n
He said the group has great opportunities to organize whatever
\nactivity they wished now due to huge funds and experience in
\nrunning an effective government.<\/p>\n
Mahfud said the people masterminded the bomb attacks to evade
\nthe prosecution which Soeharto is facing for his alleged graft
\nduring 32 years in power.<\/p>\n
Asked if Abdurrahman had any comment on a United States State
\nDepartment warning advising against travel to Indonesia following
\nthe bombings, Wimar said the move was \"standard procedure for a
\nforeign embassy.\"<\/p>\n
The State Department advisory warned that the U.S. embassy in
\nJakarta had indications the bombings \"may continue and that U.S.
\ninterests may be targeted.\"<\/p>\n
It urged Americans to avoid \"nonessential\" travel to Indonesia
\nand recommended the cancellation of all trips to the provinces of
\nAceh, Maluku, Irian Jaya or East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
No one has claimed responsibility for Sunday's deadly
\nexplosions, but police have questioned dozens of people, and said
\non Monday they had arrested two suspects in the West Java capital
\nof Bandung.<\/p>\n
The suspects, identified only as Roni, 20, and Agus, 22, were
\namong six civilians injured in a blast that exploded in a shop
\nwhich police believe to have been used to store and assemble
\nbombs. The police also found leaflets about the terror campaign.<\/p>\n
The shop owner, Aceng Suhari, remains at large.<\/p>\n
Following the bomb attacks, a group of religious leaders
\nagreed on Tuesday to form a joint crisis center to deal with
\ninter-religious problems.<\/p>\n
\"The first center will be established in Jakarta,\" chairman of
\nthe Indonesian Council of Churches (PGI) Nathan Setiabudi said in
\nan interview with Radio Elshinta.<\/p>\n
The sudden meeting, held at the Borobudur Hotel in Central
\nJakarta, was attended by representatives of all religions and
\nfaiths in Indonesia, including Syafii Maarif, chairman of the
\nMuhammadiyah Muslim organization and Andi Jamarop, deputy
\nchairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization.<\/p>\n
After the meeting, the religious leaders met with President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
\"The President welcomed the plan,\" said Nathan, without
\nelaborating.<\/p>\n
The Borobudur meeting itself focused on the Sunday bombing of
\nchurches and efforts to prevent the incidents from developing
\ninto something worse, Nathan said. (23\/nur\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-undeterred-by-attacks-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}