Maluku seeks Jakarta's help in expelling Jihad Force<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): The executor of the civil emergency status
\nin Maluku, Governor Saleh Latuconsina, called on Wednesday for
\nsupport from the central government and related authorities in
\nexpelling the Jihad Force from the territory.<\/p>\n
Latuconsina wants Jakarta, the military and the police to
\nprevent members of the force from embarking on ships at ports in
\nSurabaya and Makassar, the capitals of East Java and South
\nSulawesi, respectively, which in the past have served as the
\nJihad Force's gateway to Maluku.<\/p>\n
"If the authorities, especially the military in charge in
\nSurabaya and Makassar, fail to do so, the conflict in Maluku will
\nbe unresolved and leave us with piles of problems," the governor
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that the total isolation of Maluku would be the last
\nresort if members of the Jihad Force continued to violate the
\ncivil emergency status.<\/p>\n
The Yogyakarta-based Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Forum Jihad Force
\nsaid on Monday it would send 1,300 fighters to reinforce
\nthousands of others who arrived in Maluku in May.<\/p>\n
The group's leaders insisted they were easing the suffering of
\nMuslims in the islands at the hands of what they called "a
\nChristian conspiracy".<\/p>\n
Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani said he would send
\nofficers to neighboring Sulawesi's Makassar Port, the largest in
\neastern Indonesia and the main embarkation point for people bound
\nfor the Maluku islands.<\/p>\n
"The officers will be deployed to check boats at that port. I
\nhave also worked with police chiefs at other departure points to
\nprevent (the Jihad Force) from sailing to Maluku," he said.<\/p>\n
He said there were approximately 2,000 members of the Jihad
\nForce in Ambon. "I've tried to communicate with their commanders
\n(about leaving the area) but to no avail."<\/p>\n
Firman also said authorities were surveilling Muslim
\nneighborhoods believed to be sheltering Jihad Force members,
\nincluding the neighborhoods of Batu Merah, Waehaong and
\nGalunggung.<\/p>\n
Latuconsina also suggested troops in Maluku be rotated out
\nevery three to four months. "This is important to avoid
\npartiality and possible involvement in the ongoing conflict."<\/p>\n
Tension remained high in Ambon on Wednesday as heavily armed
\nrioters shut down communications in Aster, Tantui district, by
\ncutting power lines.<\/p>\n
The action resulted in a communications blackout in the
\npredominantly Christian villages of Hative Kecil and Galala, as
\nwell as in Halong, Lateri, Paso and the Halong Naval Base, Suara
\nMaluku daily reported.<\/p>\n
The city also is experiencing a shortage of food and medical
\nsupplies for the thousands of refugees in living in makeshift
\ntents in the hills around Kayu Putih, Soya, Hatalae, Hukurila,
\nNaku, Telaga Raja, Mahia and Kusu-Kusu, all in the eastern part
\nof Jasirah Ambon.<\/p>\n
Dozens of other people are taking refuge at the governor's
\nresidence in Mangga Dua Atas, Ambon.<\/p>\n
Poso<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Poso, Central Sulawesi, security officials
\narrested on Tuesday an alleged mastermind of the violence that
\nclaimed hundreds of lives since first erupting on May 23.<\/p>\n
The man, identified as Fabianus Tibo, 55, was arrested in
\nJamur Daya village, Lembo district, at about 6 a.m. on Tuesday,
\nthe chief of the Peace Task Force, Capt. Agus Firman Yusmono,
\nsaid on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
"Fabianus admitted to having killed at least 40 people during
\nriots in the villages of Sepe Silanca in Lage district, and
\nMoengko and Sayo in Poso Kota district. He is currently being
\nquestioned at the Tadulako Military Resort Command and will be
\nhanded over to the Central Sulawesi Police," Agus said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Poso Regent Abdul Muin estimated on Wednesday that
\nthe violence in Poso caused at least Rp 200 billion in losses.<\/p>\n
"The losses were calculated from no less than 4,000 buildings
\ndestroyed in the violence," he said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
South Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna separately said he and
\nother governors in Sulawesi had agreed to send the some 36,000
\npeople who fled the violence in Poso back to their homes.<\/p>\n
"We will start returning them after the overall arrangements
\nand talks are completed in August," Palaguna said. (49\/27\/edt)<\/p>",
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