Church explosions mar year-end festivities

Church explosions mar year-end festivities

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Explosions rocked four churches in the Central Sulawesi
capital of Palu on New Year's Eve and the first day of the year,
on Tuesday, injuring a police officer.

Eyewitnesses said that the first explosion took place at the
Seventh Day Adventist Church on Jl. Setiabudi at about 23:50 p.m.
local time minutes before the second blast at the Indonesian
Christian Church (GKI). The third explosion hit the Pentecostal
Church on Jl. Thamrin, only about five minutes after the second
blast.

The bomb exploded in the yard of the Pentecostal Church on Jl.
Gajahmada at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the first day of the year.

The explosion injured an officer of the bomb squad Adj. Brig.
Yani Avanto, who -- along with six other officers -- arrived at
the site following reports that a bomb was found in the church
compound.

The fact that a bomb blast occurred in the church compound was
a bit ironic as a police post was erected right in front of the
church to provide security during the new year festivities.

The third explosion was said to be the strongest. While the
four explosions caused only minor damage, they have shattered the
fragile calm in Central Sulawesi. A truce has recently been
signed by Muslim and Christian leaders to end the sectarian
clashes in Poso, Central Sulawesi that have claimed the lives of
thousands of people over a three-year period.

Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto
said officer Yani suffered a serious eye wound and had been
transported to Makassar for further treatment. Agus said police
had yet to identify those who planted the bombs, but confirmed
that some people had been questioned as witnesses.

Despite the church blasts, year-end festivities were without
incident on the whole compared to last year when several people
were killed in several church explosions in West Java, East Java
and Riau.

One man was killed when a grenade exploded on Jl. Bulungan, in
Jakarta early on Tuesday morning. Police have yet to name who was
behind the blast.

In Denpasar, Bali three people were killed in traffic
accidents on New Year's Eve, but the new year festivities
proceeded peacefully with some 6,000 policemen and other security
officers fielded to provide security during the merry making on
the island.

A folk arts festival was held by the Badung regency
administration on Kuta beach, Bali's most popular tourist area.
Featuring various popular folk arts, such as the sensual Joged
dance and the joyful Janger dance, the festival attracted
thousands of visitors, and caused traffic congestion in the
surrounding area.

Separately, President Megawati Soekarnoputri spent New Year's
Eve at the Tampaksiring State Palace, some 35 kilometers north of
here, by throwing a private party to celebrate her husband's 58th
birthday.

Security was very tight around the palace, which made it
impossible even for a journalist to enter the compound.

"This is a invitation-only party. I saw several noted figures
entering the compound, including the National Intelligence Body
(BIN) chief AM Hendro Priyono," a security guard said.

In the restive provinces of Aceh and Maluku, gunshots and bomb
blasts marked New Year's Eve.

Continuous gunshots were heard in Banda Aceh and Lhokseumawe
in Aceh before and after midnight.

At about 10 p.m. local time, young people took to the streets
on motorcycles to celebrate the joyful night. They seemed
oblivious to an attack on a military post at the Pemuda Pancasila
building on Jl. Cik Di Tiro by unidentified gunmen. The military
said the attack was conducted by members of Free Aceh Movement
(GAM).

An soldier was injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, a band entertained the people of Sigli, while a
Seudati traditional dance performance was held in Bireun.

In Ambon, the capital of Maluku, gunshots and bomb blasts were
heard amid the sounds of firecrackers.

The gunshots were mostly heard in volatile areas, including
Mardika, Batumerah, Ahuru, Karang Panjang.

Antara reported that the gunshots were fired by security
officers guarding the hot spots and several areas outside the
city of Ambon.

Unidentified people threw homemade bombs in several areas. No
incidents were reported and security was maintained. Places of
worship were also full of people.

In the capitals of West, Central and East Java, Bandung,
Semarang, and Surabaya people celebrated New Year's Eve
festivities by flocking the streets. No violent incidents were
reported.

In Yogyakarta thousands of people jostled along popular Jl.
Malioboro and other main roads, such as Jl. Sudirman, and Jl.
Solo.

In the neighboring sultanate city of Surakarta, King Pakoe
Boewono XII gave a message for local citizens on New Year's Eve.
In the written address read by chief of the palace administration
GPH Dipokusumo, the sultan reminded the people of the degradation
in the nation's moral values and asked the people to maintain
traditional cultural values.

Art and cultural performances entertained the people who
stayed up for the night.

In Medan, North Sumatra, the people celebrated the new year
celebrations peacefully despite the floods which had devastated
several areas.

In the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar people celebrated
the new year in their own way. Many of them just strolled around
the city; many others went to theaters and malls.

In the easternmost province of Irian Jaya, peace and order
marked the new year festivities.

In the capital of Jayapura people let off firecrackers.

Teenagers gathered in the Teluk Yos Sudarso recreation area
which is located in front of City Hall.

On Tuesday morning the city was very quiet with traditional
markets, shops, restaurants closed.
-----------------------------------

EYEBOX:

Chairman of the Central Sulawesi Inter-Ecclesiastical
Coordination Body Jhonni Soriton said that the Christians
regretted the bombings, which disturbed and marred the
tranquility of Christmas and the new year celebration.
He urged police to find the persons responsible soon.