Stash of 123 bombs discovered in Poso

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

Locals have discovered a stash of 123 home-made bombs in the religiously divided regency of Poso, Central Sulawesi, putting security in the regency to a test ahead Idul Fitri and Christmas festivities this year.

The bombs were found on Sunday evening in a Muslim cemetery in Moengko Lama.

Adj. Sr. Comr. Abdi Dharma Sitepu said on Monday that only eight out of the 123 bombs were active, equipped with fuses and filled with shrapnel, including sharpened metal fragments and nails.

"The bombs were packed in two sacks," Adbi Dharma said.

The bombs were discovered by locals while they were cleaning their family tombs. Residents reported their finding to police.

Some of the bombs looked as if they had been produced recently, while others could have been left over from earlier fighting between Muslims and Christians between 2000 and 2002, Abdi Dharma said.

While police believed the bombs were being prepared for new attacks, they still had no idea about the specific targets of the bombings, he said.

The latest finding comes three days after an attack on a house being used as a church in the district, in which a Christian, Hans Lamiti, 25, was shot.

Hans is being treated at a hospital in Poso regency for a serious gun-shot wound.

Major sectarian conflict broke out in Poso regency in 2000, when some 2,000 Muslims and Christians were killed and tens of thousands of others were displaced.

The conflict flared up intermittently until 2002, when the government brokered a peace accord between the warring parties.

Fearing the possible return of conflict to the area, the government has this year deployed thousands of police to the regency to assure security there.

Despite the increased police presence, attacks on Christians have continued and a Protestant minister and a senior prosecutor have been killed in the area during the past year.

Several people have been arrested for the crimes, but locals suspect members of the armed forces may be involved in the conflict in an attempt to instigate renewed fighting between Muslims and Christians.