Ambon refugees stranded in Taliabu<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More than 100 people fleeing sectarian violence
\nin the Maluku capital of Ambon have been stranded in West Taliabu
\ndistrict, North Maluku regency, for more than a week after their
\nboat developed engine trouble.<\/p>\n
They were en route on the Harapan Muda from Kairatu in Central
\nMaluku to their hometown of Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Antara quoted sources at the North Maluku Military Command as
\nsaying the 105 passengers -- more than half aged from six years
\nto 15 years -- were stranded on March 10 when the boat's engine
\nbroke down. They are now sheltered at the Taliabu Military
\nCommand.<\/p>\n
\"They are in good health and have received food supplies from
\nlocal offices and traders,\" according to First Lt. Hertoyo.<\/p>\n
\"We don't know when they will be able to set sail again.\"<\/p>\n
Thousands of people have been displaced following clashes
\nbetween Muslims and Christians in the provinces. Some officials
\nestimate 60,000 Muslims -- many originally from Southeast
\nSulawesi and South Sulawesi -- have fled the unrest which has
\nleft about 200 people dead.<\/p>\n
Ambon was reportedly calm on Thursday.<\/p>\n
In a dialogue held on Thursday with local community figures in
\nBuru Utara Timur subdistrict, Central Maluku, Head of the Armed
\nForces (ABRI) special team of officers from Maluku, Maj. Gen.
\nSuaidy Marasabessy called on ABRI members to be proactive in
\nquelling the unrest.<\/p>\n
\"Don't just wait for orders,\" he said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
He said ABRI members found to allow violence to go unchecked
\nwould face harsher penalties than those who took action but
\nviolated procedures, Marasabessy said.<\/p>\n
Marasabessy said an Army captain, identified as MK, arrested
\non Tuesday was not a provocateur and was only arrested for
\nviolating procedures.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Antara reported that a plainclothes Army captain
\nfrom local military headquarters fired warning shots as residents
\nattempted to extinguish fire engulfing houses near a mosque.<\/p>\n
The agency also reported the man was seen earlier provoking
\nMuslims in the area. The man allegedly told Muslims the fire was
\nstarted by Christians.<\/p>\n
Shots fired by the captain provoked panic among residents.<\/p>\n
Marasabessy was also at the scene and seized the gun from the
\ncaptain, currently detained by military police in Ambon.<\/p>\n
Separately, students in the North Sumatra capital of Medan and
\nCentral Java's capital, Semarang, staged street demonstrations on
\nWednesday protesting the spiraling violence in Ambon. (swe\/21\/har)<\/p>",
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