Indonesia: Jakarta Bomb Hits Moderate Groups

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By Konradus Epa

A parcel-bomb exploded at the East Jakarta offices of the Utan Kayu Community yesterday injuring five people, three of them seriously.

The blast occurred in the compound of the Utan Kayu Community, a collection of moderate Islamic groups, while three policemen were trying to defuse the device.

One of the seriously injured officers lost a hand in the blast, while a security guard and a cleaner were slightly hurt.

The bomb, hidden in a book, was addressed to Ulil Abshar Abdalla, an activist of the Liberal Islam Network and delivered to the Institute for Studies on Free Flow of Information in the morning.

An employee became suspicious after noticing some wires sticking out of the parcel and immediately contacted the police.

According to Adrianus Meliala, a criminologist from the state University of Indonesia, Abdalla may have been a target because of his support for human rights and his recent condemnation of the attack on the Ahmadiyah sect on February 6.

Abdalla is now a politician with Indonesia’s Democratic Party and is known for his liberal views.

“We hope the government will seriously investigate this case. It’s very dangerous as it could lead to further violence,” the Catholic layman said.

Two other bombs were also found yesterday at the National Narcotics Agency and at the home of the chairman of Pemuda Pancasila, a youth organization.

Police Commissioner General Ito Sumardi Djunisanyoto said police had yet to find any links between the three bombs.

The case is currently being handled by Special Detachment 88, a police counter-terrorism squad.

UCA News

The Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News, UCAN) is the leading independent Catholic news source in Asia. A network of journalists and editors that spans East, South and Southeast Asia, UCA News has for four decades aimed to provide the most accurate and up-to-date news, feature, commentary and analysis, and multimedia content on social, political and religious developments that relate or are of interest to the Catholic Church in Asia.

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