Bomb explosions kill two, injure 14 in Ambon

The Jakarta Post, Ambon

Two homemade bombs exploded in two separate areas in the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon on Monday, leaving two dead and 14 others seriously injured.

Linggawati, 51, the owner of an electronics equipment store in the city, died of severe injuries after a strong explosion ripped through her store, while her son, Roberth, 25, died before he was able to receive medical attention at the Graha Bhakti General Hospital.

The bomb blast also injured 14 others, including three becak (pedicab) drivers and several shoppers in the store. The injured were still undergoing intensive care at two hospitals in the city.

Security personnel investigating the incident said that the bomb, which was fitted with a timer, was hidden in a piece of electronics equipment and was aimed at creating new disturbances in the city.

Tanto, 24, a worker in the shop, said the bomb blast destroyed everything in the store.

"I was very shocked when the bomb explosion threw me to the ground. All the goods in the shop have been destroyed," he said.

Beforehand, another bomb also exploded in Batumerah subdistrict, leaving six people, among whom were three soldiers and one student, injured.

Eyewitnesses said the bomb was hurled into a truck belonging to the city administration by an unidentified man riding a motorcycle.

The truck driver, however, kicked the bomb out.

The explosion enraged residents who then burned a Kijang van that had been carrying seven people, including three soldiers, in protest at the latest act of terrorism.

Neither the Pattimura Military Commander, Brig. Gen. Mustopo, or the Maluku Provincial Police chief, Farouk Muhammad Saleh, were available for comment on the two explosions.

The situation in the city is becoming tense again after three months of relative calm. Thousands of people have been killed and left homeless in the sectarian conflict that exploded in Jan. 1999. So far, no permanent solution to the conflict has been found.

The government has sent additional troops to Maluku to help keep the peace in Indonesia's Spice Islands.