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.
