Bombers still at large in Poso despite peace deal
Erik W., The Jakarta Post, Palu
Three days after two bombs rocked the once strife-torn town of Poso in Central Sulawesi, no one has been summoned for questioning as a witness or suspect over the blast that has challenged peace there.
Neither were any suspects arrested by the authorities after the previous bomb blast on March 20 that damaged the Poso social welfare office on Jl. Pulau Kalimantan.
The first explosion was blamed on the alleged unfair distribution of food aid intended for thousands of refugees who fled their homes during two years of sectarian fighting in Poso.
The home-made bombs exploded in the disused office of state- owned water company PT PDAM at Ratulene village, around 15 kilometers from Poso, on Thursday evening.
No casualties were reported in the consecutive bombings that blew out windows and shattered floors in the building in the subdistrict of Poso Pesisir.
Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto said on Saturday that local authorities were still gathering evidence for investigation.
"However, no witnesses have been questioned in the case," he told The Jakarta Post.
Agus dismissed claims that the series of explosions were an attempt to disrupt a peace accord signed by Muslim and Christian leaders in December in the South Sulawesi hill resort of Malino.
"Despite the bombings, the security situation in Poso remains conducive and there have been no significant upheavals," he argued.
He admitted, however, that the latest blast shattered the peace enjoyed by the local people since the December peace deal.
Meanwhile, head of the Central Sulawesi social welfare office Andi Azikin Suyuti said claims that the second bombing was linked to the alleged unfair distribution of aid for refugees needed to be investigated.
He urged local security authorities to arrest the bombers of both PDAM and the social welfare office and take firm action against them to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Azikin said he had reported the first bombing to the Coordinating Ministry of Peoples' Welfare in Jakarta.
He also said that until late last month, at least 3,546 families consisting of a total of 15,608 refugees had returned home from camps across the province.
The series of bombings took place despite the ongoing disarmament operations that started in early February and were extended for one month until April.