Deadly blast, accidents mar New Year's Eve
Deadly blast, accidents mar New Year's Eve
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A bomb blast, accidents and violence marked the new year on
Thursday across the country, with at least 16 people dead and
many others injured.
At least 10 people, including two children, were killed and 30
others wounded when a powerful bomb exploded in Peureulak, East
Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province on Wednesday night.
The blast took place during a concert at a crowded night
market. Six were killed instantly and the remaining four,
including a one-and-half-year-old boy and seven-year-old boy,
died in hospital.
East Aceh military commander Col. Andogo, who visited the
scene on Thursday, accused the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels of
planting the bomb under the concert's stage.
"It's handmade, not a (military) standard bomb. Many people
were killed since most of them were standing near the stage," he
said.
However, local rebel commander Ishak Daud denied that GAM was
behind the attack. "We have never targeted civilians because they
are our people," he told AFP.
The blast was the bloodiest incident since Aceh was placed
under martial law on May 19, 2003. Hundreds of people, mostly
civilians, have since been killed in firefights between troops
and GAM members.
The transition into 2004 was also marked by several fatal
accidents across the country, leaving at least six revelers dead.
Two families in the Bali capital of Denpasar observed New
Year's Eve in silence, anguishing over a tragic accident that
claimed the lives of three children.
The bodies of nine-year old Taufik Hidayat, his six-year old
brother Rizky Najarudin and their seven-year old friend Bayu Adi
Saputra were found before dawn on Wednesday in a muddy pond, some
200 meters from their houses.
They had been reported missing on Tuesday afternoon.
In the West Java capital Bandung, 22-year-old Iwan was unable
to blow the trumpet he had bought to celebrate New Year's Eve
after a bus hit his motorcycle about 25 minutes before the
arrival of 2004.
The resident of Cibogo hamlet, Citatah village, Cipatat
subdistrict, died at the scene, while his 15-year-old girlfriend
was injured in the accident.
Also, a man was killed and six others injured in a collision
between two motorcycles in Bojonegoro regency, East Java, amid
traffic congestion at New Year's Eve, Antara reported.
The victim, Suhari, along with his fiance, Dian, was driving
his motorcycle and was suddenly hit by another motorbike coming
from the opposite direction, which was believed to be driven by a
drunken man.
New Year's Eve in Greater Jakarta was observed peacefully, but
one person died and at least 19 others were injured in various
car and motorcycle accidents, hospital sources said on Thursday.
A man named Asmadi was killed in Cariuk area, Bogor regency,
while 11 people were treated at Cipto Mangunkusumo General
Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta for injuries sustained in
traffic accidents, said Daryono, a staffer at the hospital's
emergency unit.
At Tarakan General Hospital, Central Jakarta, seven people
received treatment for injuries. Two of them were sent to RSCM
due to the seriousness of their injuries, said duty nurse, Sister
Eva.
Another car accident victim was admitted to St. Carolus
General Hospital.
In the Southeast Sulawesi capital of Kendari one person died
and nine others were injured in several accidents, said a
hospital worker at Edi Sabara General Hospital's emergency unit.
In Surabaya, a man, identified as Sujadi, suffered serious
injuries after being mobbed by several men during a New Year's
Eve celebration.
In Medan, North Sumatra and Batam in Riau, thousands of
revelers enjoyed peaceful celebrations.