Gus Dur: No martial law in Ambon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid has vowed not to
\nimpose martial law in Ambon, Maluku, which has seen 63 people
\nkilled in bloody conflicts since Sunday.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman stressed that he did not consider martial law a
\nmeans to end the conflict, but asserted that military
\nreinforcements would be deployed in the area where the military
\nhad taken up the security command from police on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not considering putting martial law into effect there but
\nin one or two days military intervention will be needed,\" he told
\njournalists at his Bina Graha presidential office on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also reiterated that military intervention could
\nnot resolve the bloody feud, but it could mediate between the
\nconflicting factions.<\/p>\n
The problems have to be settled by the locals, he said.<\/p>\n
The latest reports from Ambon reveal 63 people have now died
\nsince Sunday, raising the total number of casualties since the
\noutbreak of conflict in January to about 850.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman added that the decision to deploy forces and the
\ntakeover of security command in Maluku by the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) from the police was done in response to requests made by
\nthe local administration, in particular, Governor Saleh
\nLatuconsina.<\/p>\n
But the President conceded that a strong military presence may
\nnot have the desired results.<\/p>\n
\"We don't know what the effect of this military intervention
\nwill have. We will only find out later whether their arrival is
\nwelcomed or not,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Ambon, Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela
\nconfirmed that he received orders to instill order and to quell
\nthe outbreak of violence.<\/p>\n
\"I will take this responsibility before God. The most
\nimportant thing for me is to salvage human lives,\" he said, while
\ndescribing the two warring factions as \"brothers\".<\/p>\n
However, it has often been the very presence of military and
\npolice forces which some say have only deepened the conflict.<\/p>\n
There have been wide accusations that the forces in Maluku may
\nbe impartial by siding with one of the conflicting sides. Many
\nhave also questioned how the warring parties have gained access
\nto rifles and others weapons which have worsened the conflict.<\/p>\n
There are an estimated 2,000 soldiers in the Ambon area.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) issued on Monday a
\nstrong statement demanding international peacekeepers in Ambon if
\nthe military and police refuse to be held accountable for the
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
Eggs<\/p>\n
Ambon resembled a war zone on Wednesday as volleys of gun
\nshots and explosions of grenades and homemade bombs were heard in
\nvarious corners of the city.<\/p>\n
\"The worst hit residential areas are Pohon Pule, Urimeseng,
\nBethlehem Church and those close to Silo Church, which was burned
\ndown on Sunday,\" a resident said.<\/p>\n
\"More areas in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku are
\nnow boiling,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The local branch office of state electricity company PT PLN
\ncaught on fire again on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Life in general has come to a standstill, while City Hall and
\nmilitary institutions have generally been closed to the public.<\/p>\n
\"Now and then electrical power is cut, telephone conversations
\nhave been frequently interrupted or overlapped or cut
\nabruptly,\" another resident said.<\/p>\n
Basic necessities are becoming increasingly high in demand as
\nsupply is unsteady.<\/p>\n
\"Two days ago eggs cost Rp 3,000 each, but today they cost Rp
\n1,200 after a new supply came in from Manado,\" the resident said,
\nadding that the price of a kilogram of chicken has doubled to Rp
\n30,000.<\/p>\n
\"Fuel and gasoline have become rare.\"<\/p>\n
As Ambon continued to burn, politicians were at odds on how to
\napproach the latest troubling developments.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung rebuffed the
\nPGI's call for international peacekeepers.<\/p>\n
Speaking during a visit to Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Akbar
\nsaid on Wednesday that self-restraint was the key to stopping the
\nbloodbath.<\/p>\n
He also appealed to security forces to uphold their neutrality
\nin managing the conflict.<\/p>\n
\"Stern measures have to be taken against whoever commits
\nviolence,\" he told Antara.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Jakarta, House Deputy Speaker for political
\naffairs and security Soetardjo Surjoguritno welcomed the
\nincreased military presence in Ambon.<\/p>\n
\"Since the situation there has become worse, we have to accept
\nthe military's arrival for the better interest of the nation,\"
\nSoetardjo said, conceding that it was a difficult decision to
\nmake, given that many were also opposed to it.<\/p>\n
Soetardjo remarked that given the escalation of violence, the
\nsituation seemed to necessitate military intervention.<\/p>\n
However, he stressed that the military's presence must be
\nperiodically evaluated.<\/p>\n
He then criticized the government for having no clear policy
\non resolving the Ambon crisis and decried Abdurrahman's remark
\nthat it was up to the people of Maluku to settle.<\/p>\n
\"What's the use of the government if they submit it to local
\nresidents?\" he charged. (48\/sur\/emf\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-no-martial-law-in-ambon-1447893297",
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