Ambon unrest claims four more victims<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Four died in continuing unrest involving
\nthousands of people in West Seram and in the provincial capital
\nof Ambon on Saturday.<\/p>\n
In Piru, West Seram, Maluku Police chief Col. Bugis M. Saman
\nsaid hundreds of homes in three hamlets here were set on fire in
\nthe latest unrest, which broke out last week.<\/p>\n
One person died in the violence, but he did not identify the
\nvictim.<\/p>\n
In Ambon, thousands of people attacked the Mardika market and
\nset fire to at least 15 shop-houses at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said the attackers came from the direction of the
\nnearby Muslim-dominated Al Fatah area in several vehicles. They
\nwore white headbands, which is the sign of Muslims here.<\/p>\n
Some 30 security personnel in the area prevented the mob from
\nentering the nearby Bethel Church.<\/p>\n
The crowd then proceeded to throw at least one homemade bomb
\nand a Molotov cocktail at the shop-houses before setting fire to
\nthe buildings.<\/p>\n
During the clash with security personnel three people died of
\ngunshot wounds, but officers said they could not be sure the
\nshots were fired by the military. At least five were injured
\nincluding a soldier.<\/p>\n
Security personnel are conducting sweeps to confiscate arms
\nfrom civilians.<\/p>\n
The dead were identified as La Amu, 60, and Muhammad
\nMarasabessy, 42. Antara reported another victim was La Dili but
\ndid not mention his age.<\/p>\n
Military police were seen escorting a low-ranking soldier to a
\nvehicle. An officer who requested anonymity said the second
\nsergeant was suspected of having incited the riot.<\/p>\n
\"He looked drunk,\" the officer said, while another said the
\nsoldier appeared to be \"possessed\".<\/p>\n
Firefighters were able to make their way through the crowd a
\nfew hours later and the situation was said to be under control by
\n8 p.m. Military and police authorities could not be reached for
\ncomment.<\/p>\n
The majority of Mardika market, which is near a Christian-
\ndominated residential area, was burned down in the communal riots
\nin January. In anticipation of continuing violence, security
\npersonnel are guarding several locations in the town.<\/p>\n
Unrest also took place last week on Halmahera Island in North
\nMaluku. This latest violence has prompted the halting of all
\ncommercial flights from and to Pattimura Airport in Ambon.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Communications has asked for a security
\nguarantee from Minister of Defense and Security\/Indonesian
\nMilitary Commander Gen. Wiranto before reopening the airport.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, AFP reported on Saturday from The Hague
\nthat Dutch premier Wim Kok called on Friday on the Indonesian
\ngovernment to help prevent a worsening of the situation in Ambon.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Kok said he understood the \"feeling of unease\"
\namong the Moluccan community, many of whose forefathers served in
\nthe Dutch armed forces before Indonesia gained its independence
\nfrom the former colonial power.<\/p>\n
Kok also said he wanted to meet with representatives of the
\nMoluccan community in the Netherlands, the news agency reported.<\/p>\n
\"I want to listen and explain the standpoint of the Dutch
\ngovernment,\" Kok said, expressing his \"grave concern\" about the
\nsituation in Ambon.<\/p>\n
Kok was reacting to a demonstration held in The Hague on
\nThursday involving up to 1,000 protesters, which ended in
\nscuffles when riot police blocked the march from proceeding to
\nthe Indonesian Embassy.<\/p>\n
The protesters demanded the intervention of the United
\nNations, the European Union and the Netherlands to stop the
\nviolence in Ambon.<\/p>\n
Col. Bugis said some 117 people had been killed and 394 others
\ninjured since renewed religious clashes broke out on July 27 on
\nthe troubled island. (48\/anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ambon-unrest-claims-four-more-victims-1447893297",
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