President orders probe into Ambon bomb blast
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri ordered a thorough investigation into the latest bloodshed in Ambon on Monday, along with stern measures against those found to be behind the violence.
"The President has contacted security officials and asked them to complete the investigation as soon as possible," Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla said at a news conference which followed a cabinet meeting.
Megawati's statement came as Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko announced that authorities were searching for two men suspected to have thrown the bomb in front of the Amboina Hotel.
Soenarko identified the suspects as Ibdi Amin Tabrani Pattimura, and Zafruddin. The two were believed to have borrowed a red Kijang van from a restaurant in the Simpang Muslim area before detonating the bomb.
The police chief could not, however, say whether the suspects remained in Ambon, or had fled to other islands, noting only that the hunt involved military and police in neighboring provinces.
In an attempt to speed the arrest of the suspects, their pictures were made public through the media, he added.
At least seven people were killed and 58 others severely injured in the blast, which took place at the Nelayan Karaoke Bar in front of the Amboina Hotel on Jl. Kapitan Hulupaha, about 700 meters from the governor's office.
The area is a busy street, where both Muslims and Christians mingled after the signing the Malino II peace accord on Feb. 12.
Soon after, an irate mob pelted the governor's office and set it on fire. No one was injured in that incident, however.
In the cabinet meeting, Megawati also instructed investigators to immediately renovate the damaged gubernatorial building.
"Tomorrow (Tuesday) a team from the office of Public Works will depart for Ambon to asses the damage," Jusuf said.
National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, who also attended the conference, said that the suspects were named after questioning 11 eyewitnesses.
"These two are believed to be directly connected to the explosion. We're still searching for them," Da'i said.
According to some of the witnesses, the bomb was tossed from a red Kijang van, which was later found near the explosion site.
Police also discovered a blue bag containing a 1.2-meter antennae and cable, a booster, a nine-volt battery, two clips, and two 12 Volt-100 Ampere batteries near the scene.
Although the police have also discovered traces of TNT at the site, Da'i denied speculation that either police or military officials were involved.
"In the investigation thus far, we found no involvement of any security officials" in the bomb blast, he said.
He added that police have yet to find a motive for the bombing, which took place before the arson attack on the governor's office.
On Sunday, visiting chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono branded the bombers as "terrorists" and said that he had likewise asked the Maluku civil emergency authorities to capture them as soon as possible.
Addressing journalists after a meeting with local government and security officials on Sunday night in Ambon, he pledged that there would be a harsh crackdown on troublemakers.
"The authorities shall not tolerate any act of terror against the people. At the same time, the state will refrain from repressive measures. There will be no human rights violations in dealing with terrorists," he said.
Susilo, who led a high-powered delegation to Ambon including Kalla, who brokered February's peace talks to end fighting in Maluku, flew home early on Monday following his two-day visit.