Eleven killed in Tual as Maluku clashes resume<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Religious clashes in the Southeast Maluku town
\nof Tual have claimed at least 11 lives and injured 50, police and
\nhospital sources said Friday.<\/p>\n
Head of the Tual General Hospital, Nona Notanubun, told Antara
\nthat a priest, Butje Hehanussa, and his two sons, Hensen
\nHehanussa and Dani, were killed as a result of machete attacks on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Sherby Bugis, Gani Tamher and Tete Renhoran died
\nfrom arrow wounds, Donatustelio Warubun from spear wounds and
\nJacob Beay from bullet wounds, the news agency said.<\/p>\n
It also said at least one person, Harold Joice Noya, was still
\nmissing, after the conflict -- the latest to rock the province
\nafter over a week of calm -- erupted on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The agency on Friday, quoting sources at Southeast Maluku
\npolice and Tual hospital, reported 11 had died in the two-day
\nclash.<\/p>\n
Second Lt. Ferry Latue told The Jakarta Post by phone from the
\npolice command post in Tual, some 540 kilometers southeast of the
\nprovincial capital of Ambon, that violence continued at dawn in
\nthe Christian area of Kampung Baru on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"The clashes carried on sporadically and the situation is only
\nreturning to calm this afternoon,\" Ferry said, adding that about
\n50 people were injured.<\/p>\n
A local government official, who requested anonymity, said
\nboth Muslims and Christians started the renewed violence on Jl.
\nKarel Sasuit Tubun early Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"Muslims and Christians armed with machetes, arrows and
\nMolotov cocktails were attacking each other. Security personnel
\nthen fired warning shots to disperse (them) ... then opened fire
\non the crowd,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He claimed many people sustained injuries from bullet wounds.<\/p>\n
\"Security personnel chased the crowd down alleys and into
\nresidents' houses.\"<\/p>\n
Scores of residents fled their homes to nearby military
\nfacilities on Thursday, he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile observance of Good Friday passed peacefully in Ambon
\nand other areas. Some worshipers were seen in tears while
\nsecurity personnel continued to monitor the situation.<\/p>\n
But in Tual, Antara reported only a few attended mass as most
\nwere still at the refugee center of the Air Force base in
\nLanggur. There were also fears of additional violence.<\/p>\n
The agency reported that at least 40 houses were set on fire
\non Wednesday and Thursday.<\/p>\n
Residents told the news agency the clashes erupted before dawn
\non Wednesday when Christians from Taar village attacked a
\nneighboring Muslim community in Wearhir village.<\/p>\n
The reason for the outbreak of violence remained unclear, but
\nlocals said tensions were sparked after the discovery of a piece
\nof graffiti defaming Islam in Wearhir on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Residents blamed the violence on instigators who fled violence
\nin Ambon earlier in the month.<\/p>\n
Since mid-January, bloody clashes between Muslims and
\nChristians in Ambon and several other islands in Maluku province
\nhave left almost 200 people dead and has caused wide-spread
\ndestruction.<\/p>\n
Maluku Military chief Col. Karel Ralahalu, and Maluku Police
\nchief Col. Bugis Saman remained in Tual on Thursday to calm
\nresidents.<\/p>\n
Two members from the special military task force, Col. Nono
\nSampono and Col. Cornelis Patty, also visited the town.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces (ABRI) chief Gen. Wiranto sent 19 locally-born
\nofficers to the province last month to quell weeks of violence
\nbetween Muslims and Christians.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that one company of troops was dispatched from
\nAmbon on Wednesday to reinforce about 100 local security
\npersonnel.<\/p>\n
Karel told the news agency on Wednesday that security
\npersonnel would take harsh measures against rioters in Tual.<\/p>\n
\"Anybody who tries to incite trouble will be crippled so that
\nthey will not worsen the situation.\"<\/p>\n
He said security forces would try to separate the warring
\nparties by marking boundaries between them. (byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eleven-killed-in-tual-as-maluku-clashes-resume-1447893297",
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