Ambon snipers may not be RMS members<\/p>\n
M. Azis Tunny and Tiarma Siboro, Ambon\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police have arrested more separatists blamed for triggering
\nrenewed clashes in Ambon, Maluku but failed to explain why they
\ncould not capture snipers still roaming across the eastern city.<\/p>\n
The mysterious snipers, who killed several people including
\ntwo policemen in days of recent fighting, might not belong to the
\nSouth Maluku Republic (RMS) separatist group, outgoing Maluku
\nPolice chief Brig. Gen. Bambang Sutrisno said.<\/p>\n
\"Currently we are dealing with the RMS. But I can't say the
\nsnipers are its members. They could be from another group,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono
\nSutarto said he would deal sternly with any of his soldiers if
\nthey were found to have joined the conflict.<\/p>\n
\"If people can provide reliable evidence that shows the
\ninvolvement of soldiers in the clashes, I will arrest the
\nsoldiers and they will stand trial,\" he said<\/p>\n
However, Endriartono warned he might also sue those who blamed
\nthe TNI for the violence that first broke out on April 25, saying
\nthe military had \"no political agenda\" in Maluku ahead of the
\nJuly 5 presidential election.<\/p>\n
The snipers, apparently well-trained and equipped with
\nautomatic rifles, shot their targets from high buildings and
\ntrees in downtown Ambon.<\/p>\n
Hot spots for sniper attacks were Tanah Lapang Kecil (Talake),
\nWaringin and Batugantong -- on the borderlines of Christian and
\nMuslim communities. Most victims of the snipers were shot in the
\nhead and chest.<\/p>\n
These three areas were also the scene of sectarian fighting,
\nwhich has killed at least 38 people since April 25.<\/p>\n
Bambang and Endriartono did not explain why none of the
\nsnipers had not been captured, although they were operating in
\nopen areas.<\/p>\n
The area is occupied by paramilitary police Mobile Brigade
\n(Brimob) personnel, who arrived from Jakarta soon after the April
\n25 to prevent further attacks.<\/p>\n
Maluku Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Endro Prasetyo said Brimob
\nofficers had combed areas for snipers and fired shots at several
\nof them.<\/p>\n
\"Several snipers have been shot but their identities remain
\nunknown because they were immediately rescued by their
\naccomplices,\" he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere on Wednesday morning, gunmen in a speedboat shot
\ndead a boy and injured a girl on Wamkarna Beach in Buru, Maluku.<\/p>\n
They also killed a 38-year-old man, Obet Lesnussa, in the
\nneighboring village of Wainalut, church leader Jacky Manuputty
\nsaid. Residents fled the two villages after the incident.<\/p>\n
On May 1, gunmen in a boat targeted 19 fishermen sailing off
\nLatuhalat village in Nusaniwe, Ambon. One man was killed, while
\nthe others survived by jumping into the sea.<\/p>\n
The fisherman told the Suara Maluku newspaper the attackers
\nwere dressed in green military-like uniforms and were armed with
\nautomatic guns. They said the gunmen fired shots at them from
\nabout 10 meters away.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, at least 35 separatists have been detained on
\ncharges of inciting the deadly battles that began after a banned
\nseparatist parade by the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) on April
\n25. The parade was commemorating the 54th Anniversary of the
\ngroup.<\/p>\n
The latest violence is the worst since a peace pact in
\nFebruary 2002 ended three years of religious fighting in Maluku,
\nin which some 6,000 people died.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar admitted on Wednesday
\npolice had failed to prevent the fresh clashes.<\/p>\n
Police in Ambon should have arrested RMS members involved in
\nthe parade and detained them securely, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Instead, my personnel escorted the convoy of RMS activists
\nand others to the nearest police office. When the convoy passed
\nthrough mainly Muslim areas, it provoked locals to attack,\" Da'i
\ntold a hearing at the House of Representatives in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Da'i was praised for firing Maluku Police chief
\nBambang Sutrisno for failing to curb the latest violence.<\/p>",
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