At least 15 killed in Ambon clash<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Tension gripped the Maluku capital of Ambon on
\nTuesday as renewed violence erupted between Muslims and
\nChristians, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 100
\nothers, according to police and hospital sources.<\/p>\n
Maluku Police spokesman Maj. Jekriel Philip, citing reports
\nfrom three local hospitals -- Haulusi General Hospital, Al-Fatah
\nHospital and Protestant Maluku Church Hospital -- said that as of
\n5 p.m. local time on Tuesday, at least 15 people had been killed
\nand 101 more injured in clashes in Batu Merah and Mardika in
\nAmbon.<\/p>\n
\"The situation is still tense but under control, and groups of
\npeople carrying sharp weapons and homemade firearms are still
\nseen gathering in these areas,\" Jekriel told The Jakarta Post
\nfrom Ambon.<\/p>\n
Batu Merah and Mardika have been the center of the clashes
\nbetween Muslims and Christians which broke out earlier this year,
\nleaving more than 350 people dead and a trail of destruction.<\/p>\n
Jekriel quoted witnesses as saying this latest round of
\nviolence was triggered by a traffic accident in front of An-Nur
\nMosque in Batu Merah on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"A car, which was driven by a police officer who happens to be
\nChristian, hit another car. It was just a traffic accident caused
\nwhen the car's brakes gave way. But people then gathered in the
\narea and demanded the local military and police chiefs settle the
\nmatter,\" Jekriel said.<\/p>\n
Muslim activist Malik Selang from Al-Fatah Mosque said two
\nMuslims were injured in the accident, and accused the police
\nofficer of hit-and-run.<\/p>\n
\"We were angry because security personnel could not settle the
\nmatter. Both communities then attacked each other, but were
\nquickly dispersed,\" Malik told the Post.<\/p>\n
He said the violence flared up again in Batu Merah and Mardika
\nat around 9 a.m. on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Muslims and Christians have accused security personnel of
\nfavoritism in dealing with the clashes.<\/p>\n
Earlier, a doctor at Al-Fatah Hospital, who spoke on condition
\nof anonymity, said the hospital received five corpses and
\nadmitted more than 50 people with slash and bullet wounds.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Sonny, a staff member in the emergency ward of
\nHaulusi Hospital, said the hospital received at least nine
\ncorpses and was treating some 32 people for bullet wounds.<\/p>\n
A staff member at Protestant Maluku Church Hospital, Yanes
\nLekransi, said at least 31 people with bullet wounds were
\nadmitted to the hospital on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Ambon Police chief Lt. Col. Gufron, however, was quoted by
\nAntara news agency as saying 17 people were killed in the latest
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
He told a media conference that Haulusi Hospital received 10
\ncorpses, Al-Fatah Hospital six corpses and Protestant Maluku
\nChurch Hospital one corpse.<\/p>\n
He also said that from July 23 to Aug. 9, at least 45 people
\nwere killed in communal clashes in Ambon. Police have arrested 45
\npeople suspected of involvement in the violence.<\/p>\n
The independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of
\nViolence said last week 82 people were killed and four went
\nmissing in Ambon between July 15 and Aug. 5.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Capt. Sutarno, a staff member at the local military
\ninformation office, said at least 14 security personnel were
\ninjured in the recent violence and were being treated at a
\nmilitary hospital and Haulusi Hospital.<\/p>\n
Police also said more than 30,000 people fled to nearby
\nmosques, churches and military barracks fearing further unrest.<\/p>\n
One battalion of reinforcement troops arrived in Ambon late
\nlast month to quell the ongoing violence between Muslims and
\nChristians.<\/p>\n
Earlier, four battalions of troops, or some 2,600 men, and
\nthree companies from the National Police's elite Mobile Brigade
\nwere deployed to the province. (byg\/48)<\/p>",
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