Poso military confiscate bombs

Poso military confiscate bombs

Erik W, The Jakarta Post, Palu

In a series of raids for weapons in Poso regency, Central
Sulawesi, the military confiscated three mortar shells, 10 bombs
and dozens of arrows, rifles and handguns.

The raids took place after a bomb exploded in the office of
the social welfare agency in Poso on Sunday night. The bombing
caused extensive damage to the building, but there were no
casualties.

The head of the military operation, First Lt. Prabowo, said
the raids were conducted in Bonesompe and Poso Pesisir, two
subdistricts of Poso regency.

He said the mortar shells were handed over by Misnawati, 40, a
teacher at a state junior high school in Poso.

He said that when his men went to Misnawati's home in
Bonesompe subdistrict, she immediately handed over the mortar
shells.

"We also found 10 bombs and arrows in several houses in the
subdistrict," he said.

After the searches in Bonesompe, the operation moved to
Patiwunga village in Poso Pesisir subdistrict, where many
residents are believed to have stockpiled weapons during the
religious conflict in the area.

In Poso Pesisir, Prabowo said, they found dozens of rifles and
handguns.

Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto
said security in Poso was improving despite the bomb explosion in
the social welfare agency building.

"Poso residents are a bit worried, but they can safely travel
around in the area," he said.

Asked whether the police had identified those responsible for
Sunday night's bombing, he said they were still investigating the
case.

The bomb explosion was the first incident since the Muslim and
Christian combatants in the area signed the Malino peace
agreement, which was mediated by the central government, in
February in Malino, South Sulawesi.