Poso blast mars Xmas cheer<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A low explosive bomb went off on Tuesday in the Central Sulawesi
\ntown of Poso as the nation readied for Christmas.<\/p>\n
No fatalities were reported in the incident, but it sent
\nstrong message to police that they had to tighten security
\nnationwide in order to prevent any similar violent acts on
\nChristmas Day.<\/p>\n
The bomb exploded in a field on Tuesday morning in front of
\nthe office of the Lembomawo subdistrict head in Poso. No one was
\nhurt, but shrapnel shattered the windows of the office.<\/p>\n
The bomb was spotted on a public transportation vehicle plying
\nthe Poso-Lembomawo route by a passenger named Mince Muda. Mince,
\nthe last passenger to get off the Daihatsu minibus in Lembomawo,
\nsaw a suspicious plastic package beneath a passenger seat.<\/p>\n
She asked Roy, the minibus driver, to take a look at the
\npackage. He did so, and was shocked to find that it was a bomb.<\/p>\n
He put the package in a field in front of the office of the
\nLembomawo subdistrict head and immediately ran to the nearest
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) outpost for assistance.<\/p>\n
The bomb detonated before the TNI arrived, causing anxiety
\namong residents of the surrounding area.<\/p>\n
Poso Police chief Adj. Comr. Abdi Dharma confirmed that the
\ndevice was a low explosive bomb.<\/p>\n
\"The bomb was aimed at provoking a riot in Poso,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post in Palu.<\/p>\n
Alex, 30, a Christian activist with a crisis center here, said
\nthe Christian community was unaffected by the incident and
\nremained calm. Undeterred, they were busily preparing for
\nChristmas Day, arranging various activities such as a singing
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
Across the archipelago, the incident had little effect on the
\npeople as they merrily prepared for Christmas.<\/p>\n
In the East Nusa Tenggara capital of Kupang, which is
\npredominantly Catholic, hundreds of Catholics and Protestants
\nrehearsed Christmas performances on Tuesday in several big
\nchurches, including Masehi Injili and Pniel Oebobo churches. Mass
\nwill be held on Wednesday, Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n
Most public transportation drivers played Christmas carols as
\nthey shuttled people about town.<\/p>\n
A similar sense of joy also prevailed in the Papua capital of
\nJayapura. Jayapura residents have begun decorating churches,
\ntheir homes and schools with Christmas decorations.<\/p>\n
Papuans were seen on Tuesday painting their houses, while
\nothers put up their Christmas trees and strung lamps.<\/p>\n
\"This is the way the Christians celebrate Christmas. The
\nbrighter light symbolizes a brighter heart to celebrate the birth
\nof Jesus Christ,\" said Rev. Mano.<\/p>\n
Shops and malls were packed by people tending to last-minute
\nChristmas shopping.<\/p>\n
As the people prepared to make merry, the National Police
\nprepared to beef up security over Christmas.<\/p>\n
In the West Java capital of Bandung, West Java Police chief
\nInsp. Gen. Dadang Garnida said local police would deploy 15,000
\npersonnel to safeguard Christmas.<\/p>\n
\"As for a 'bloody Christmas', I hope this will not happen. The
\nissue emerged during the National Police chief's visit to
\nSingapore, when the deputy prime minister of Singapore brought it
\nup,\" he said. He stressed that the issue was groundless.<\/p>\n
Bombing attacks are a real threat, as at least 16 people were
\nkilled on Christmas Eve 2000 in coordinated bomb attacks on
\nchurches in several parts of the country.<\/p>\n
Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi said the
\nlocal force would thoroughly check any person who wished to enter
\nchurches in order to prevent the possibility of a similar attack.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, police said they would sterilize churches and
\nbeef up security against bombings. \"Some 5,000 personnel, or two-
\nthirds of our force, will be deployed to safeguard Christmas
\nDay,\" said Yogyakarta Police chief Brig. Gen. Sudirman.<\/p>\n
All in all, the National Police has vowed to deploy 248,662
\npersonnel nationwide to ensure peace and security over Christmas,
\nsaid National Police deputy chief of public relations Brig. Gen.
\nSoenarko.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poso-blast-mars-xmas-cheer-1447893297",
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