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Bombs Spree Marks Indonesia's Independence Day in Aceh
At least 30 bombs or grenade blasts were heard around the main city in the restive province of Aceh in the run-up to Indonesia's Independence Day Friday, local residents told online Jakarta Post.com reporters.
The blasts cut power to the provincial capital Banda Aceh for some hours Thursday night and badly damaged four banks. One was burnt to the ground. As Indonesia's Independence day is approaching, Banda Aceh remained tense, with streets very quiet, most shops closed and a transport strike still in force.
Residents said at least 30 blasts were heard Thursday evening up to midnight and two more on Friday morning in and around Banda Aceh. Four banks on the campus of Syiah Kuala University in the nearby Darussalam area were bombed Thursday evening and Bank BNI was burnt to the ground.
There was no immediate information on casualties or the target of most of the bombs.
Aceh military spokesman Colonel Firdaus reported three blasts between Thursday evening and Friday morning around Lhokseumawe, 200 kilometers east of Banda Aceh.
The military has blamed local rebels Free Aceh Movement (GAM) for setting all the bombs, aiming to upsetting the country's Independence Day celebrations in the area.
GAM has waged a guerrilla war for 25 years in its campaign for an independent Islamic state in the fervently Muslim region. More than 1,100 people, mostly civilians, have died so far this year.
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