Death toll rises in Saparua clashes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Security authorities have gradually restored
\norder on Saparua Island in Maluku following three days of
\ncommunal clashes which claimed 11 lives.<\/p>\n
Antara reported on Sunday dozens were also injured in the
\noutbreak, the latest to rock the archipelagic province since the
\nfirst religious-related conflict exploded in mid-January.<\/p>\n
Authorities were still investigating what triggered the most
\nrecent clashes which began on Oct. 21, but they speculated that
\nit originated from a long feud between two villages.<\/p>\n
Maluku Military chief Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela said people of
\nSirisori Islam and Sirisori Amalatu villages were fighting over
\nthe right to cut trees in the area.<\/p>\n
\"It looks like the clashes originated over this row,\" Tamaela
\ntold Antara.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of reinforcement troops made up of personnel from the
\nprovincial military command and the Marines have been deployed to
\nthe island, about three hours by boat from the province's capital
\nAmbon.<\/p>\n
The agency said the death toll rose to 11 after another of the
\ninjured died in state-run Saparua Hospital.<\/p>\n
Ferdinand Tupamahu died of gunshot wounds to his chest.<\/p>\n
Another 20 were treated at the sole hospital on the island.<\/p>\n
Halim Bugis, a Saparua resident, told The Jakarta Post by
\nphone from Ambon on Saturday night that the island was believed
\nto be under control although tension remained high.<\/p>\n
\"Dozens of security personnel from Ambon are patrolling the
\narea and they have closed all the gateways to the island,\" Halim
\nsaid, citing reports from relatives and friends.<\/p>\n
He said no more shots were heard and streets and public places
\nwere deserted as most residents chose to stay indoors.<\/p>\n
\"We don't know what to do. The armed attackers can
\nunexpectedly throng the streets without warning. But now, if they
\ntry anything, they will be confronted by troops,\" said Halim, who
\nleft the island a day after the first clash erupted on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said he could not return to the island just yet.<\/p>\n
\"To reach Sirisori Islam village, I have to pass at least
\nthree Christian villages,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sirisori Islam is one among three Muslim villages, while 15
\nother villages on Saparua are predominantly Christian
\ncommunities.<\/p>\n
\"The Muslim village was attacked by people from Christian
\nvillages. We were outnumbered and we only survived because
\nsecurity personnel arrived on time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Priest Liang from Silo Church said in Ambon that
\ncommunications with Saparua had been difficult to ascertain the
\nsituation and cause of the clashes. The death toll could be
\nhigher than 11, he said.<\/p>\n
He lamented that the clashes were triggered by trivial matters
\nand that they degenerated into communal conflicts.<\/p>\n
\"The clashes in Ambon were also caused by trivial matters, but
\nthey were fanned by some people. The same thing is now happening
\nto Saparua,\" Liang told the Post. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/death-toll-rises-in-saparua-clashes-1447893297",
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