Navy opens blockade in Maluku waters<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Navy has imposed a blockade in Maluku waters
\nto help prevent the spread of violence in the area and expedite
\nevacuations, which have transported some 17,500 people in less
\nthan a week.<\/p>\n
Nine ships -- KRI Multatuli, KRI Hasan Basri, KRI Rencong, KRI
\nPattimura, KRI Kakap, KRI Teluk Sabang, KRI Teluk Penyu, KRI
\nTeluk Peleng, and another unnamed ship -- are sailing through the
\nwaters to prevent \"unidentified\" ships from commuting between or
\nentering the area of the riot-hit islands.<\/p>\n
Navy spokesman Commodore T. Ontowiryo said in a statement here
\non Thursday the blockade was under the direct command of
\nCommodore Ferdinand Manengkey, commander of the Eastern Region
\nCombat Squadron.<\/p>\n
Five scout planes have also been assigned to the blacked.<\/p>\n
The blockade would hopefully prevent rioters from moving from
\none island to another.<\/p>\n
Ontowiryo also said the navy would step up its efforts to
\nassist those seeking evacuation from riot-torn areas.<\/p>\n
He said the navy has helped evacuate 17,500 refugees from
\nHalmahera since Jan. 1.<\/p>\n
The state-owned shipping company PT Pelni has halted services
\nto Maluku after last weekend's hijacking of one of its ships.<\/p>\n
Communication minister Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar said the
\ninexcusable act could not be tolerated and rather than taking the
\nrisk he had agreed to suspend services.<\/p>\n
He said the ministry in cooperation with the Naval base in
\nBitung are preparing buses and other modes of transport for those
\nwishing to return to Ternate.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Ambon, Maluku Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max
\nTamaela asserted that despite the unending communal conflict in
\nthe area there was no need to impose a Military Operations Area
\n(DOM).<\/p>\n
\"The case of Maluku is not the same as that of Aceh, where
\nrioters clash with security forces. So, there is no need for DOM
\nstatus in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku,\" Tamaela said
\nas quoted by Antara here on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing is to separate the two conflicting
\ncamps to prevent further clashes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid has already said he would not
\nimpose martial law in the area.<\/p>\n
The year-long religious conflict, which has mostly been
\ncentered around Ambon, spread in the past fortnight to
\nneighboring islands in North Maluku.<\/p>\n
While over 1,000 people have died as a result of clashes in
\nAmbon, the number of dead in Halmahera and the surrounding
\nislands is unclear.<\/p>\n
After the first four days of fighting official estimates put
\nthe number of dead at about 450.<\/p>\n
Since then the toll has varied according to the source.<\/p>\n
Casualties<\/p>\n
Antara cited on Thursday Musriyono Nabiu, head of the North
\nMaluku Health Team, as claiming that 991 people had died in seven
\ndistricts in Halmahera Island, North Maluku, since Dec. 26.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the sidelines of a visit to Ternate by State
\nMinister for Social Affairs Anak Agung Gde Agung, Musriyono said
\nthe worst hit area was Tobelo district, with 421 dead.<\/p>\n
He said current figures did not include casualties in the
\nCentral Hamahera districts of Weda, Iba and Wasile, where clashes
\nwere also reported.<\/p>\n
State minister Anak Agung Gde Agung was in Ternate to deliver
\nspecial aid for victims of the violence from President
\nAbdurrahman.<\/p>\n
About 500 tons of rice and other foodstuffs were handed over
\nto help the thousands of refugees in the town of 120,000 people.<\/p>\n
In Ambon, Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina said he regretted
\ninaccurate media reports which have tended to exaggerate the
\nnumber of dead.<\/p>\n
\"I really regret the way the press has focused on this without
\ndouble-checking their sources,\" he said, adding that such reports
\nwere creating an unhealthy atmosphere and did little to help the
\npeace that local officials were trying to forge.<\/p>\n
Pattimura Military Command chief Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela told
\njournalists on Thursday that he regretted the use of the term
\npembantaian (genocide) by several Jakarta-based newspapers.<\/p>\n
He said the deaths were the result of fierce clashes between
\ntwo warring groups.<\/p>\n
The reports of mass killings have provoked several
\ndemonstrations in Jakarta and other major cities in the last few
\ndays; some Muslim groups have pledged a \"holy war\" to avenge the
\ndeaths of Muslims in Maluku.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Ambon has remained generally peaceful over the last
\ntwo days. Offices were open on Thursday, but very few employees
\nwere present.<\/p>\n
A curfew is still imposed, but people said they felt more
\nsecure.<\/p>\n
The military continued door-to-door searches for weapons. In
\nBatu Merah on Thursday, the military confiscated 17 homemade long
\nrifles, one pair of military binoculars, 50 5.56 mm caliber
\nbullets and five pistol bullets from houses. (48)<\/p>",
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