Explosion hits riot-torn Ambon

JAKARTA (JP): An explosion believed to be from a bomb thrown near an Islamic school shook the riot-torn city of Ambon in Maluku province, Antara reported on Thursday.

An unidentified witness was quoted by the news agency as saying the explosion in Batu Merah village in Sirimau district caused neither damage nor casualties but created panic. It was believed to have been from a bomb thrown at the school.

"The bomb exploded in mid-air, exactly above the roof of a madrasah (Islamic school)," the witness said.

A strong smell of sulfur remained, but despite a police search no traces of explosive were found.

The news agency reported the explosion, which could be heard for up to four kilometers, was believed to have come from a crude, makeshift bomb.

Violence since last month in the Maluku involving Muslims, Christians, locals and migrants, have left 105 people dead according to official figures.

The news agency also said that a fact-finding team from the House of Representatives was dispatched to the riot-torn city on Wednesday night.

Legislator La Ode Djeni Hasmar was quoted as saying that the six-member team will be on a seven-day fact-finding mission in Ambon.

Antara also reported that days of rioting and violence in Ambon had caused the state-owned electricity company PLN at least Rp 1.2 billion in material losses.

"This estimate is only for Ambon as the total losses across the province are still being evaluated," Kasian Tanjung, head of the Maluku office of the company was quoted as saying after meeting Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina.

He said the riots had damaged around 10,000 meters of low- voltage cables, 400 meters of mid-voltage cables and another 39,000 meters of house power lines.

The recent string of violent outbreaks began Jan. 15 on Dobo island in southeast Maluku, where eight people were killed in riots.

Four days later, rioting broke out in Ambon itself and lasted nearly a week. At least 85 people were killed in the area alone. Some 20,000 people are still seeking refuge in military bases, police stations, mosques and churches.

Another riot broke out on Sanana island, northwest of Ambon, in which two were killed.

The violence in Ambon was sparked by a fight between a Muslim migrant and a local Christian public transportation driver on Jan. 19. It quickly degenerated into full-scale riots between members of the two communities. (byg)