Bombs found in Ambon mosque

Muhammad Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

Police have defused two homemade bombs found on Thursday outside the Al Fatah grand mosque in the city of Ambon, renewing fears of heightened tension that could threaten the fragile peace in the province, which has been torn by years of sectarian clashes.

Maluku Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Noviantoro said the police bomb squad had defused the bombs, which were found by the mosque's janitorial staff at about 11:00 a.m.

He said the bombs had been placed inside two pipes, each about 10 centimeters long with a diameter of 5 centimeters. Police are still in the dark about the motive.

"Some people are just not happy with the improving security in Maluku after years of conflict," Noviantoro said.

The discovery came amid fresh fear of rising tension in the provincial capital of Ambon, where Muslims and Christians have fought each other for some three years.

About half the population in Maluku are Christians. Since 1999, the fighting has claimed thousands of lives with an equal number of victims on both sides.

The warring sides agreed to end fighting in a Jakarta-brokered peace accord, signed early last year.

So far the accord has withstood the sporadic violence that continues to erupt in Ambon and elsewhere in the province.

Last January, the blast from a homemade bomb led to a riot that injured three people and damaged several vehicles.

The head of Ambon's Religious Affairs Office, Hasyim Marasabessy, said that mosques and churches were prone to attacks, as they could easily spark anger in people.

Police have so far been unable to identify or catch any of the bombers, allowing the attacks to continue to provoke the masses.

"I am calling on the public to remain calm and not to let themselves be provoked by the finding of these bombs, so that we can maintain a conducive situation in Ambon," said police chief Noviantoro.

Despite the simmering threat of violence, security has improved since the signing of the peace accord.

The government had imposed a state of civil emergency in Ambon but plans to revoke it, pending the election of a new governor to the province. No date has been set for the election.