44 dead in fresh N. Maluku violence<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): The unabated bloodshed in North Maluku
\ncontinued on Monday when at least 44 people were killed in a
\npredawn attack on two villages on Halmahera island.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Pattimura Military Command overseeing Maluku,
\nBrig. Gen. Max Tamaela, confirmed the incident which occurred in
\nMakete and Duma, Galela district, saying that hundreds were
\ninjured in the incident.<\/p>\n
"I've received a report from the North Maluku sector commander
\nCol. Sutrisno that 44 died and I've ordered troops from Jailolo
\ndistrict and Marine personnel from Morotai to secure the
\nvillages," Tamaela said by telephone on Monday night.<\/p>\n
The attack on what were known as predominantly Christian
\nvillages took place at about 5 a.m. local time by an armed mob
\nwhich entered the area from the sea and surrounding hills,
\nTamaela said.<\/p>\n
"The attackers mostly come from Ternate, and we're
\ninvestigating all the facts and the possibility of the alleged
\ninvolvement of Laskar Jihad or security members (in the attack)
\nhere."<\/p>\n
Makete and Duma are located less than a kilometer from the
\nshores of the Halmahera Sea.<\/p>\n
Other estimates put the death toll at 50.<\/p>\n
The deputy chief of the Galela-based Synode Masehi Injil
\nHalmahera Church, Rev. Biso, said that apart from 50 dead, 102
\nwere injured.<\/p>\n
The injured were taken to Bethesda Hospital, about 40
\nkilometers away.<\/p>\n
"Most of the victims were injured due to bomb shrapnel and
\ngunshot wounds. Houses also were burned and many died in their
\nsleep," Biso said.<\/p>\n
The attack was almost identical to another dawn attack on May
\n25 in Mamuya village, also in Galela, which killed 34 people.<\/p>\n
Biso claimed that residents desperately needed protection but
\nwere afraid to turn to security forces which they suspected
\nassisted in the attacks.<\/p>\n
"The people are desperate. Do those attackers wish to wipe out
\nall Christians from the island? Who else can help us?" Biso
\ncharged.<\/p>\n
Tamaela called for restraint and for the people to accept the
\nassistance of security forces.<\/p>\n
"Please do not reject security deployment here and lets face
\nthe rioters together," he said.<\/p>\n
Community leaders in Galela and Tobelo districts have rejected
\nthe presence of security troops in the area because they felt
\nthat some of them were taking sides with one of the warring
\ncamps.<\/p>\n
Tamaela could not hide his disappointment about the incident
\nand said he asked Indonesian Military (TNI) chief of general
\naffairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago to directly coordinate with
\nNavy Chief of Staff Adm. Achmad Sutjipto to tighten the blockade
\nin the waters of North Maluku.<\/p>\n
"The troops here lack the ability to detect the attackers
\narriving from the sea ... We badly need backup from the navy on
\nthis."<\/p>\n
Galela and Tobelo districts are known as trade centers on the
\nislands.<\/p>\n
Among the commercial estates is the Calvandis Banana
\nPlantation in Galela, dubbed the biggest of its kind in Southeast
\nAsia.<\/p>\n
The area has been rocked by several riots but it was
\nrelatively calm in recent months.<\/p>\n
The more than 18 months of sectarian violence in the Maluku
\nislands have claimed more than 2,000 lives, forcing thousands of
\nothers to flee the province. (49\/48\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/44-dead-in-fresh-n-maluku-violence-1447893297",
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