Civil emergency authority to crack down on rioters<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. I
\nMade Yasa revealed on Tuesday a plan by the Governor as the
\nleader of the Maluku Civil Emergency to crack down on
\nprovocateurs and rioters.<\/p>\n
\"We can no longer tolerate provocation and we have to be firm
\nas we have entered the peace-orientation phase in Maluku,\" I Made
\nYasa said in his office in Batu Gajah on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Yasa said Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina has issued three
\norders to the Pattimura Military Commander and Maluku Police
\nchief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani on three issues that need immediate
\naction.<\/p>\n
\"The first order is to take firm action against provocative
\nbroadcasting by Radio Suara Perjuangan Muslim Maluku. and other
\nillegal radio stations.<\/p>\n
\"The second order is to crack down on the alleged armed,
\nphysical and military-style training activities in Waai village
\nin Salahutu district in Ambon island,\" Yasa said.<\/p>\n
Waai was a predominantly-Christian village before it was
\ngutted by fire in a massive armed blitz in the area that drove
\nthe locals away on July 5 and July 6, 2000.<\/p>\n
\"The third order is to take firm action against intruders and
\nillegal residents, including raids on drugs and alcohol,\" the
\ngeneral said.<\/p>\n
He added that TNI in Maluku should focus on order No. 2 (on
\nthe crackdown on the physical training camp) and leave the other
\ntwo tasks to the police.<\/p>\n
\"Police have to play a bigger role in security problems and
\nTNI should not get too involved in this. However, we are ready to
\nback up the Police at any time where necessary.<\/p>\n
\"I do not want TNI to take over the role of provincial
\nadministration and the police's role in handling Maluku riots,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Yasa said the situation in Maluku is predicted to remain in a
\nstate of fragile calm until next year, up until the period of the
\ngubernatorial election that is slated for November 2002.<\/p>\n
Regarding rotation of troops, it is reported that the existing
\nBrawijaya Cavalry Battalion of East Java has been replaced by
\nSriwijaya Cavalry Battalion of South Sumatra.<\/p>\n
\"The new cavalry battalion is complete with six armored
\nvehicles in Ambon and directly stationed in Ambon islands,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
There are currently five military battalions in North Maluku
\nand 10 battalions in Maluku.<\/p>\n
Yasa further revealed that the fresh batch of Joint Battalion
\n(Yongab) III will not replace the existing Yongab I in the
\nimmediate future.<\/p>\n
\"I have talked with the TNI commander and Army chief and it is
\ndecided that Yongab III is still needed in Jakarta due to
\n'escalating political tension',\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Joint Battalion comprises the three elite units of Air
\nForce' Paskhas, Navy's Marines and Army's Kopassus.<\/p>\n
There are two Joint Battalions in Maluku -- Yongab I and
\nYongab II -- stationed in Ambon islands and Seram islands.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a man named Semmy Toysuta, 25, was found dead with
\nstab wounds all over his body on Monday night. The body was
\nburied later on Tuesday around 4 p.m. in Karang Panjang area.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said he was last seen on Sunday afternoon walking
\nfrom Mardika to Batu Merah area before he was reported missing
\nfor a couple of days. Security officers and his family were
\nnotified by the Al Fatah Hospital to pick up his body.<\/p>\n
Semmy was the son of a priest of Beta Bara church in Batu
\nMerah Dalam, which was burned down in riots in the first phase of
\nMaluku violence in 1999.<\/p>\n
Separately in Makassar, capital of South Sulawesi, a group of
\nMaluku students demonstrated against a visit by 43 legislators
\nand executives from Central Maluku regency, claiming that \"the
\nvisit is a waste of money\". The group tried to expel the
\ndelegation -- who were there for regional autonomy training --
\noutside Hotel Sahid in Makassar.<\/p>\n
\"The visit has cost some Rp 400 million and it's a waste of
\ntiem and money. They should have stayed in Maluku,\" student
\ncoordinator Herry Patti said. (edt\/49\/27)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/civil-emergency-authority-to-crack-down-on-rioters-1447893297",
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