19 killed in fresh clash in Ambon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sectarian violence struck Ambon again resulting
\nin the death of at least 19 people, prompting the Indonesia
\nCommunion of Churches (PGI) to demand international peacekeepers
\nin riot-torn Maluku province if security forces refuse to be held
\naccountable for the escalating violence.<\/p>\n
The fresh violence in the last 48 hours belied the calm in the
\nprovincial capital on Christmas Day, leading the communion to
\nclaim that the intensifying fury was tantamount to genocide.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued here on Monday afternoon the communion
\nexpressed its \"deep concern\" over what it claimed were escalating
\nattacks on Christian congregations over the past two weeks in
\nMaluku, including Sunday's burning of Silo Church.<\/p>\n
\"The massive attacks against Christian congregations is a
\ndirect consequence of the lack of transparency in the handling of
\nthe conflict in Maluku by the Indonesian Military (TNI) and
\nPolice,\" the statement said.<\/p>\n
The military and the police must be held accountable for the
\nunresolved and escalating conflict, it added.<\/p>\n
\"If accountability is not undertaken, then, taking into
\nconsideration the continuing violence and heeding the people's
\nstrong feelings, it would be best if TNI and police forces were
\npulled out of Maluku and replaced with international
\npeacekeepers.<\/p>\n
\"We consider this conflict, which has been given a religious
\nlabel, as an extermination of the indigenous Maluku people along
\nwith their social institutions to be replaced by another society
\nwhose form we cannot yet ascertain,\" said the statement signed by
\nBishop Sularso Sopater and the communion's general secretary J.M.
\nPattiasina.<\/p>\n
Deaths<\/p>\n
Spokesman for Maluku Military Command Lt. Col. Iwa Budiman
\ntold The Jakarta Post by telephone from Ambon that the violence
\nbroke out after an unfortunate traffic accident on Sunday
\nafternoon in an area which had actually been declared neutral.<\/p>\n
He said a 14-year-old Muslim boy who was riding his bicycle
\nwas hit by a public transport van driven by a Christian.<\/p>\n
He said the boy was then rushed to Haulusi General Hospital,
\nwhich was known to locals as a Christian hospital.<\/p>\n
When news broke out of the accident and that the boy had been
\ntaken to a Christian hospital, a mob, identified by Iwa as an
\nangry Muslim crowd, began to assemble and violence soon erupted.<\/p>\n
He said security officials tried to maintain calm but the
\ncrowd began throwing petrol bombs and shots were also reportedly
\nfired.<\/p>\n
Violence lasted throughout Sunday night until Monday
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
\"There was a fury of gunfire, both from security officials
\ntrying to control the situation and other parties involved in the
\nconflict,\" Iwa recounted.<\/p>\n
\"Things didn't stop till about 2:30 p.m. The situation is calm
\nbut tense,\" he said, adding that so far 19 were dead with four
\nseriously injured.<\/p>\n
\"Silo Church was also burned down at 11 p.m. on Sunday night
\nalong with a few other buildings,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Silo is Ambon's largest Protestant church.<\/p>\n
Witnesses claim that as many as 40 people could have died in
\nthe latest violence, however no independent confirmation could be
\nobtained.<\/p>\n
Iwa said security forces in the area may need additional
\nassistance to anticipate further outbreaks.<\/p>\n
They are fighting with guns that are quite \"sophisticated\"
\nalbeit homemade, he added.<\/p>\n
Security forces on Monday set up roadblocks with barbed wire
\nto divide the warring groups.<\/p>\n
Maluku has been the site of bloody sectarian violence since
\nthe beginning of the year. Over 800 people have died.<\/p>\n
In a related incident in Larat, North Tanimbar, another clash
\nbroke out late on Sunday night resulting in the burning down of
\nover 100 houses. There were no reports of casualties.<\/p>\n
The mayhem broke out after news of the burning of Silo Church
\nfiltered to the small town about 550 kilometers from Ambon.<\/p>\n
The almost daily orgies of violence have left most people
\ndumbfounded on resolving the crisis. Calls by President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nduring a visit to Ambon has failed to bring peace.<\/p>\n
Just last week at least two dozen people died when violence
\nerupted in the neighboring remote island of Buru. (byg\/mds)<\/p>",
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