Churchgoers devastated by Sunday bomb incident

JAKARTA (JP): As the priest delivered a sermon on peace at Santa Anna Church in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, on Sunday, a bomb exploded under one of the pews in the back of the church.

The blast injured at least 70 people. The victims included a seven-month-old infant, a four-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy who suffered grievous injuries to his hip, a 19-year-old woman who suffered severe burns and is in critical condition, a 61-year-old nun and a number of others who suffered broken bones.

The blast also shattered most of the windows in the church and damaged a portion of its ceiling and most of its pews.

"We were listening to the priest talking about the meaning of peace and living in peace .... One minute we were listening, the next minute there was this very loud blast ... at about 7 a.m.," Herman, who was in the congregation, said about two hours after the blast.

At almost the same time, the congregation at the Jatiwaringin Batak Christian Protestant Church was shocked by a bomb that exploded inside an empty minivan parked outside the church. The vehicle was destroyed and a child was slightly injured.

"The (Santa Anna) blast stunned everybody in the church .... Rev. Surya Suryatmaja stopped preaching. There was so much screaming. People were shouting 'Help Me! Help me!' The church went dark. There was black smoke all around," Herman said.

"We didn't know where the smoke was coming from. People who were not on the floor crying or helping someone in the dark ran out of the church. It was terrible."

Seven-month-old Stefani and two-year-old Puteri were treated for their injuries at Saint Carolus Hospital and released. The distraught father of 11-year-old Aubert Conelly is still waiting for news on his son, who underwent surgery for injuries he received when his hip was pierced by splinters of wood torn off by the blast from the pew he was sitting on.

Aubert's mother, Victoriana Diana Arsita Dewi, is also receiving treatment for serious head injuries she received in the blast.

Another victim, Mrs. Yopi, said she had been praying when the bomb exploded.

"There was blood and even in the dark you could see the small marks or holes in people's legs from the blast. I was so confused ... for a second I didn't know where I was. I just ran out of there," she said.

Police officers found pieces of tiny steel pellets, known as gotri, near both crime scenes, indicating that both bombs had been packed with the pellets.

"Gotri pierces the skin and tears everything apart inside," an officer said.

Victim Theresia Tri Suhartati, 24, who suffered severe wounds to both her legs, said she saw something falling from the ceiling and then there was a "huge explosion".

"Right after the explosion, I could not hear or see. I thought I had gone blind. Even now I still can't see clearly," Theresia told The Jakarta Post.

A couple who were planning on getting married soon were shocked when the man looked down and saw that his legs were "destroyed".

According to hospital records, seven victims are still in the surgery ward of Saint Carolus Hospital in Central Jakarta, while four others are in the surgery ward of Mitra Keluarga Hospital in East Jakarta.

Political leaders, including People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, Alvin Lie, Fuad Bawazier and A.M. Fatwa, who visited Santa Anna Church at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday were verbally attacked by local residents and churchgoers.

"You people engage in conflicts and we have to suffer. Because of you small children and adults who know nothing about your politics were hurt," a person shouted from the crowd.

"How could you come here and just talk! Do you even realize what happened ... ? This is a church that was bombed," another person cried out. (ylt/prb/rsl/06)