Two explosions rock Ambon over weekend

The Jakarta Post, Ambon

Two bombs exploded in separate locations in the city of Ambon on Saturday, shaking the fragile peace in the troubled Maluku province.

No casualties were reported in the blasts.

The first explosion took place at 8 p.m. behind a building on the border between the areas of Diponegoro and Urimesing. Two hours later, another bomb exploded in the area of Ahuru.

No members of either the Christian or Muslim groups that have been involved in violence in the province were found near either blast scene. Security personnel are investigating who may have been responsible for the bombings.

Locals are urging the civil emergency administration to launch a province-wide sweep to find those responsible for these incidents.

Meanwhile, the head of the civil emergency administration, Governor Saleh Latuconsina, has extended until June 30 the deadline for people to surrender their weapons. The arms surrender is part of the February peace deal signed in Malino.

"But weapons sweeps are ongoing. Those caught carrying weapons before the deadline will still be brought before the law," he said.

The weapons sweeps, which had been halted by Ambon Military Commander Col. E.H. Lubis, will be reactivated, Saleh said.

The spokesman for the Maluku administration, Izack Saimima, added that the administration had decided to revive the midnight to 6 a.m. curfew, and to prohibit the hanging of banners without approval.