Bomb rocks Lombok

JAKARTA: A bomb explosion shocked the villagers of Bajur, in Labuapi district on the resort island of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on Saturday, as local leaders were meeting in an attempt to bring calm to the region following a two-day brawl between villages which killed nine people and injured scores of others.

"The explosion, caused by a huge firecracker, occurred at approximately 10 p.m. local time Saturday," head of NTB Police Detective Chief Comr. I Gusti Kesuma told The Jakarta Post by phone from Mataram on Sunday.

The blast damaged a house in Bajur village, but no casualties were reported in the incident.

"The explosion was intended to create unrest among residents. The peace talk, however, continued between civil and religious leaders," officer Kesuma said.

Earlier in the day, head of traditional security guards Pamswakarsa Amphibi Tuan Guru Haji (TGH) Sibawaih Mutawalli issued a directive to his 172,000 members, instructing them to stay calm and not to instigate violence.

A clash broke out on Wednesday and continued until Thursday after four residents of Parampuan village were ambushed by a group from Bongor, a neighboring hamlet, and other villagers grouped in the traditional security force.

The neighboring villages are located in different districts. Bongor is in Gerung district, while Parampuan village is in Labuapi district.

Tension still gripped the border of Parampuan and Bongor on Sunday with riot police tightly guarding the area.

On January 1 this year, a fierce clash between villagers of Bajur and Karang Genteng killed one person and left scores of others injured, including police Brig. Yulianto of West Lombok Police. (edt)