Seven killed, 42 injured in Ambon explosion<\/p>\n
Novi Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon<\/p>\n
At least seven people were killed and 42 others were seriously
\ninjured in a strong explosion onboard the California which was in
\nAmbon Bay sailing to Galala ferry port from Banteng near the
\nprovincial capital city of Ambon on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
It was not immediately clear if the strong blast was caused by
\na bomb or was an accident, but the area has long been wracked by
\nintense Muslim-Christian violence and suspicions were rife that
\nit may have been a deliberate attack on the boat which was
\ncarrying mostly Christians.<\/p>\n
There has yet to be an official explanation about the
\nexplosion which occurred at 9:15 a.m. local time (7:15 a.m. in
\nJakarta). Witnesses said they believed a bomb had been planted on
\nthe vessel, while others said an explosive had been thrown at the
\nboat from a passing speedboat<\/p>\n
Four of the seven dead victims were identified as Mrs. Hesti
\nMailoa, Noce Limahelu, Hildo Maspaitella and Maria Parinusa while
\nthree others, including the body of a Marine Corps soldier whose
\nname was not released.<\/p>\n
The spokesman for the Maluku provincial administration, May.
\nM.L. Djari that of the six Marine Corp soldiers -- deployed to
\nescort the ferry -- one died instantly, three were seriously
\nwounded and two others were missing and believed to be dead.<\/p>\n
Hospital employees claimed that all of the victims were
\nChristians.<\/p>\n
The explosion incited thousands of Christians to storm the
\ncity's streets, pelting stones at the governor's office and
\nburning down the city legislative council building during their
\nprotest against the local authorities' inaction to restore
\nsecurity and order in the prolonged sectarian conflict.<\/p>\n
The city was immediately paralyzed, with shops and offices
\nclosed while, on the streets, only about 25 percent of public
\ntransportation vehicles were operating late on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The exact number of casualties in the incident had not yet
\nbeen determined.<\/p>\n
Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina said he did not know the
\ncause of the explosion.<\/p>\n
"I cannot explain to the public the causes of the explosion
\nbecause it could raise a serious problem among the people. But,
\nthe ship's crew members, especially its captain, will be summoned
\nover the incident," he said.<\/p>\n
The government has imposed a state of civilian emergency to
\nhelp restore security and order in the province that has claimed
\nmore than 5,000 civilian people since the violence erupted in
\nJanuary, 1999.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Djari added that there were seven dead victims
\nwhose relatives wanted them evacuated to the Dr. Haulusy General
\nHospital from the Navy hospital in Ambon.<\/p>\n
"Many families have also wanted their relatives who were
\ninjured in the incident to be evacuated to the general hospital
\nto get necessary medical treatment and we are making a
\ncoordination with local security authorities," he said.<\/p>\n
He said the provincial administration had sent necessary drugs
\nand medical equipment to the Navy hospital for the victims.<\/p>",
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