Laskar Jihad members enter riot-torn Maluku<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Up to 200 members of the Laskar Jihad
\n(Jihad Force) Muslim group have entered riot-torn Ambon from
\nNamlea Port on neighboring Buru island, police said.<\/p>\n
Maluku Police spokesman Maj. Jakriel Phillip said on Monday
\nthat police and intelligence officers have been deployed to
\nmonitor the group's activities.<\/p>\n
He said the group was closely watched by security personnel
\naboard two patrol ships, but was not prevented from landing at
\nthe Slamet Riyadi port. They went straight to the Al Fatah mosque
\nupon arrival.<\/p>\n
According to Jakriel, the first group of 87 jihad members from
\nAhlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah reached Maluku on Friday night on board
\nKM Lambelu ship and stayed on Buru island before traveling to
\nAmbon on Danau Rana ferry the following day.<\/p>\n
\"Based on our latest information, the number of Laskar Jihad
\nmembers has reached between 112 and 200 people,\" Jakriel said.<\/p>\n
Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah chief Jafar Umar Thalib
\nsaid earlier that a total of 3,000 members would leave for Ambon
\nthrough Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, the capital of East Java,
\nbeginning on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela warned the
\nMuslim volunteers against instigating further unrest in Ambon.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot stop them from coming (here). But if they act badly
\nin Ambon, we will take firm measures. I've urged them to refrain
\nfrom provoking trouble,\" Tamaela said.<\/p>\n
He said security forces could not prevent the group's arrival
\nas they were unarmed and did not commit any crime.<\/p>\n
\"They say they want to help rehabilitate Ambon and that they
\nare here to do social work as well as propagate Islam. Let's see
\nif the group keeps its word,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sectarian conflict has rocked Maluku islands for 15 months
\nsince breaking out in Ambon in January last year. A semblance of
\npeace has been seen in the last few months, although minor
\nclashes still occur.<\/p>\n
In the latest incident on Monday, two residents from Laha
\nvillage were injured as a group of people from the neighboring
\nvillage of Tawiri fired homemade guns at them.<\/p>\n
The villages are located near Pattimura Airport, about 40
\nkilometers east of here. (49\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/laskar-jihad-members-enter-riot-torn-maluku-1447893297",
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