Human rights group Forum-Asia Tuesday condemned the Christmas Eve bombings in Indonesia as a "barbaric" attempt to destabilize the country by widening divisions between Muslims and Christians.
"The bombing of churches and buildings where people were gathering for prayer and celebrating Christmas is unacceptable," the Bangkok-based Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) said in a statement.
"We condemn this terrorist attack and call on Indonesian authorities to bring the perpetrators behind this terrorist act to trial."
"The groups who committed this act aimed to worsen the Indonesian political situation."
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has reportedly pledged harsh measures against those responsible for the chain of bombings that killed at least 14 people, including a two-month-old baby.
"We should not be afraid of terrorists who want to create a split in the country's unity. The government will have to strongly deal with their barbaric action," the state Antara news agency quoted him as saying Monday night.
Indonesian police have identified two suspects and questioned more than 60 people over the bombings.
Eighteen devices exploded at priests' homes or churches as masses were celebrated in eight cities including Jakarta, Bandung and Lombok Island’s capital Mataram.
Another 15 bombs were defused by police bomb squads, including a 13-kilogram bomb placed against the southern wall of Jakarta's Roman Catholic Cathedral -- BANGKOK (AFP)
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