Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Life returned to normal in Ambon on Sunday, a day after a
powerful bomb blast injured at least 53 Christians in Ambon.
On Sunday morning, churches around the city were full with
worshipers, including at Bethel church just 20 meters from the
bomb site in Kudamati area, Sirimau subdistrict.
Except for the bomb site, which police officers have cordoned
off, kiosks and window panes shattered by the explosion have been
cleaned up.
Meanwhile, security officers have stepped up their activities
since the explosion, conducting identification card checks and
security operations in a number of areas, including Batugantung,
Pohon Pule, Trikora, Urimesing, Aster and the border of Batumerah
and Mardika.
Public transportation services also returned to normal, with
public passenger cars passing through the warring communities as
usual.
"People are no longer provoked by this kind of thing. They
have learned that this kinds of provocation is conducted for the
interests of certain groups," Muslim leader Abdul Aziz
Fidmatan said on Sunday.
Saturday's attack was the first major incident since the
warring Muslims and Christians signed a peace deal during
government-sponsored talks in Malino, South Sulawesi in February.
The explosion took place outside a supermarket building located
in a predominantly Christian community, injuring at least 53
people, including several babies.
On Sunday, some of the injured were still undergoing intensive
treatment at several hospitals in Ambon. None of them were
believed to be in a critical condition.
Some of the victims were reported to have left the hospitals on
Sunday.
In Jakarta, Vice President Hamzah Haz suggested the recent
explosion was intended to create chaos ahead of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session.
"There are some people who are trying to destabilize the
situation ahead of the Annual Session," Hamzah said after the
closing ceremony of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress here Sunday.
The MPR will hold its Annual Session from Aug. 1 till Aug. 10,
in which its members are expected to endorse a fourth set of
amendments to the country's Constitution.
Hamzah, who is also chairman of the Muslim-based United
Development Party (PPP), also criticized security personnel in
Ambon, saying that they were not consistent in handling the
situation.
Hamzah did not elaborate further, saying: "I will ask for
an explanation from security authorities there."
He also called for stern measures against the perpetrators.
Ambon has been plagued by a religious conflict which has
claimed more than 6,000 lives since it broke out in January 1999.
