Two bomb explosions rock Poso, peace process shaken

Erik W., The Jakarta Post, Palu

At least two bomb explosions have rocked the Poso district in troubled Central Sulawesi amid ongoing raids by local security authorities implementing last December's peace accord.

Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto said on Friday that the home-made bombs exploded in the disused office of state-owned water company PT PDAM at Ratulene village, around 15 kilometers from Poso, on Thursday evening.

No injuries were reported in the consecutive bombings that blew out windows and shattered floors in the building in the subdistrict of Poso Pesisir.

Agus said the blasts were heard at the Poso Pesisir police station near the scene, adding that the bombs were of low explosive yield.

The first bomb exploded at 6:35 p.m. followed by the second 10 minutes later, he said.

At least two unexploded bombs were discovered by a police bomb squad which arrived one hour after the first explosion.

The team eventually managed to defuse the active bombs at the Poso district police station.

National Police security operations chief Sr. Comr. Sunarto and Poso's deputy police chief Comr. Yusmanjaya inspected the scene on Friday morning.

It was the second bombing in one month. On March 20 a bomb blast damaged the Poso social welfare office on Jl. Pulau Kalimantan.

The first explosion was blamed on the alleged unfair distribution of food aid intended for thousands of refugees who fled their homes during two years of sectarian fighting in Poso.

It was not clear what motivated the latest blast. Local security authorities are searching for the bombers.

There is speculation that the two separate attacks are linked.

Agus ruled out claims that the series of bombings showed ineffectiveness of the disarmament operations that started in early February and were extended for one month until April.

He said the raids remained effective and it was emphasizing that local people follow their consciences and surrender their weapons.

More than 39,000 weapons, including firearms, hand guns, machetes, knives, bombs and arrows, were handed in to authorities between December and February, while only a handful of other weapons have been confiscated during raids.

To attract the sympathy of local people, Agus said, the disarmament raids involved policewomen, though the operations were not being carried out by sweeping houses and farm land.

He said the authorities had encouraged villagers to set up patrols in their respective areas to prevent fresh attacks by rivals after the peace deal.

The fresh outbreak of violence has clouded last December's peace accord signed by Muslim and Christian leaders. The warring sides agreed to stop the two-year conflict that had killed thousands of people.

Agus also ruled out speculation that the explosion was linked with the outbreak of violence in Ambon in the Maluku islands. A powerful bomb killed four people and wounded 58 others in Ambon on Wednesday. The bombing was followed by the burning of the governor's office.