Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JAKARTA3350
2007-12-07 10:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
SULAWESI -- SMALL EXPLOSION MARKS LOCAL FESTIVAL
how-toVZCZCXRO6220 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #3350 3411047 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 071047Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7322 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1726 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1284 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2130 RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003350
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP, DS/IP/EAP,
DS/T/ATA, S/CT
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINS ASEC PTER ID
SUBJECT: SULAWESI -- SMALL EXPLOSION MARKS LOCAL FESTIVAL
REF: A. JAKARTA 3214
B. SURABAYA 85
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b-d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003350
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP, DS/IP/EAP,
DS/T/ATA, S/CT
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINS ASEC PTER ID
SUBJECT: SULAWESI -- SMALL EXPLOSION MARKS LOCAL FESTIVAL
REF: A. JAKARTA 3214
B. SURABAYA 85
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b-d).
1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate General
Surabaya.
2. (C) SUMMARY: A small explosion occurred in Poso, Central
Sulawesi, on December 5. There are no reports of casualties
or serious damage and a local festival continues. The
Provincial Police Chief stated to poloff that the explosion
may have been a bomb. Although the incident was apparently
isolated, there are reasons to be wary given past
terrorist-related incidents in Poso. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) AN EXPLOSION: A small device exploded in the Central
Sulawesi town of Poso on December 5 at approximately 2000
hrs. Witnesses claim that two men on a motorcycle threw a
bag on the street near a restaurant and drove off before the
bag exploded. No one was injured and there was no serious
damage.
4. (C) POLICE RESPONSE: According to the Central Sulawesi
Provincial Police Chief, Brigadier General Badrodin Haiti,
the device was not powerful and was unsophisticated --
"something a teenager could make." Continuing, Haiti said he
believed the device was a crude attempt to scare local
residents from attending the recently re-established Poso
Lake Festival, December 6-10. Haiti told poloff he believes
the device was created by an "outsider" who may live in a
neighboring regency (area). He stated the police have some
suspects, but he would not elaborate. Haiti also said no
additional police or military forces were being deployed to
the city and that he thought the explosion was a one-time
event. (Note: There are reports of a separate explosion in
a town about 320 kilometers from Poso. There are no reports
of casualties or damage from that incident, and no apparent
link to the Poso explosion.)
5. (C) Both Christian and Muslim leaders from Poso and the
town of Tentena believe the device was nothing more than
fireworks used to celebrate the Christmas season. People in
both towns are reportedly carrying on as normal and the
festival is continuing.
6. (C) POSO PROGNOSIS: Poso has been moving quickly toward
normality after several years of terrorist-related attacks
and inter-religious violence. The Poso Lake Festival was
resurrected this year to show that the violence and mistrust
of the past is over and that communities are working together
to reconcile (ref B). Given Poso's past, there are reasons
to be wary, although there is no evidence that a return to
violence is in the cards.
HUME
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, INR/EAP, DS/IP/EAP,
DS/T/ATA, S/CT
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINS ASEC PTER ID
SUBJECT: SULAWESI -- SMALL EXPLOSION MARKS LOCAL FESTIVAL
REF: A. JAKARTA 3214
B. SURABAYA 85
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b-d).
1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate General
Surabaya.
2. (C) SUMMARY: A small explosion occurred in Poso, Central
Sulawesi, on December 5. There are no reports of casualties
or serious damage and a local festival continues. The
Provincial Police Chief stated to poloff that the explosion
may have been a bomb. Although the incident was apparently
isolated, there are reasons to be wary given past
terrorist-related incidents in Poso. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) AN EXPLOSION: A small device exploded in the Central
Sulawesi town of Poso on December 5 at approximately 2000
hrs. Witnesses claim that two men on a motorcycle threw a
bag on the street near a restaurant and drove off before the
bag exploded. No one was injured and there was no serious
damage.
4. (C) POLICE RESPONSE: According to the Central Sulawesi
Provincial Police Chief, Brigadier General Badrodin Haiti,
the device was not powerful and was unsophisticated --
"something a teenager could make." Continuing, Haiti said he
believed the device was a crude attempt to scare local
residents from attending the recently re-established Poso
Lake Festival, December 6-10. Haiti told poloff he believes
the device was created by an "outsider" who may live in a
neighboring regency (area). He stated the police have some
suspects, but he would not elaborate. Haiti also said no
additional police or military forces were being deployed to
the city and that he thought the explosion was a one-time
event. (Note: There are reports of a separate explosion in
a town about 320 kilometers from Poso. There are no reports
of casualties or damage from that incident, and no apparent
link to the Poso explosion.)
5. (C) Both Christian and Muslim leaders from Poso and the
town of Tentena believe the device was nothing more than
fireworks used to celebrate the Christmas season. People in
both towns are reportedly carrying on as normal and the
festival is continuing.
6. (C) POSO PROGNOSIS: Poso has been moving quickly toward
normality after several years of terrorist-related attacks
and inter-religious violence. The Poso Lake Festival was
resurrected this year to show that the violence and mistrust
of the past is over and that communities are working together
to reconcile (ref B). Given Poso's past, there are reasons
to be wary, although there is no evidence that a return to
violence is in the cards.
HUME