N. Maluku flares up again, over 100 die<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Resurgent violence has shattered weeks of
\ncalm in North Maluku, with the military putting the death toll on
\nTuesday at 108.<\/p>\n
Outgoing Pattimura Military Commander overseeing Maluku Brig.
\nGen. Max Tamaela said that due to lack of communication and
\ntransportation in the remote area, it remained unknown whether
\nthe number of fatalities in the predawn attack on Duma village in
\nGalela on Halmahera island on Monday would rise.<\/p>\n
Other estimates put the death toll at 158, including six
\nattackers.<\/p>\n
\"We have done our best to keep at bay thousands of rioters who
\nforced their way into Duma and neighboring villages,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post on Tuesday by phone.<\/p>\n
\"I've received a report from North Maluku military sector
\ncommander Col. Sutrisno that the wounded and survivors were
\nevacuated to neighboring Tobelo district.<\/p>\n
\"Local officials flew to the area by helicopter to handle the
\nviolence. I've ordered troops from the marines as well as the
\n511st and the 512nd battalions of Brawijaya to secure the
\nvillages,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The attack on the predominantly Christian villages started at
\nabout 5 a.m. local time when around 5,000 armed people from Soa-
\nSiu village entered and raided Duma from all directions, Tamaela
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"But a one-hour open clash broke out around 9 a.m. local
\ntime,\" Tamaela said.<\/p>\n
Duma, as well as strife-torn Makete and Galela villages, is
\nlocated less than a kilometer from the shores of the Halmahera
\nSea.<\/p>\n
The head of Galela's Synode Masehi Injil Halmahera Church,
\nRev. Z. Dungir STH, said that apart from 158 dead, 213 were
\ninjured.<\/p>\n
At least 300 buildings were burned to the ground, including
\nthe historical Mita Church which was built during the Dutch
\nColonial era, Dungir said.<\/p>\n
The injured were taken to Bethesda Hospital, about 40
\nkilometers away, while up to late on Tuesday the bodies of the
\ndead were reportedly were scattered at the scene, awaiting
\nevacuation.<\/p>\n
\"Most of the victims were injured due to bomb shrapnel and
\ngunshot wounds. Houses also were burned and many died in their
\nsleep,\" he said, adding that he witnessed the church being burned
\nby the attackers.<\/p>\n
The attack was a repeat of another dawn attack on May 29, also
\nin Duma and Makete villages where at least 50 died, and on May 25
\nin Mamuya village, also in Galela, in which 34 people were
\nkilled.<\/p>\n
Monday's attack was one of the worst incidents on record in
\nthe long-running sectarian conflict in the Maluku islands.<\/p>\n
\"This is clearly genocide of Christians on Halmahera island.
\nLaskar Jihad wants us to be cleared off,\" Dungir charged.<\/p>\n
Tamaela could not hide his disappointment at the incident, but
\ndeclined to say why the rioters managed to attack. \"I have to
\ngather all data and facts to figure it all out,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked why no firm action of shoot-on-sight was taken as
\npreviously ordered, Tamaela admitted that the troops were
\nhesitant to fire as the armed mobs outnumbered them.<\/p>\n
\"Imagine if the troops opened fire. Many more would die. Is
\nthere any guarantee that in the future there would be no legal
\ncharges against the military (for opening fire)?\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tamaela also gave clarification on previous news of around 30
\nwomen and children that \"were pushed into three trucks and held
\nhostage by the rioters\".<\/p>\n
Col. Sutrisno checked on Soa Siu village, which is the base of
\nthe rioters, and found out that the people are relatives of the
\nattackers, he said.<\/p>\n
Later in the day on Obi island in North Maluku, Antara
\nreported that security forces from Maluku seized over 1,000
\nweapons, including guns, poisonous arrows and assembled bombs in
\nBobo village, which was rocked by communal clashes with 17 people
\nkilled and dozens injured on June 7. (49\/48\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/n-maluku-flares-up-again-over-100-die-1447893297",
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