One killed in latest Maluku religious clash<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Fresh violence broke out in riot-prone Maluku
\nprovince on Monday leaving one man dead, reports said.<\/p>\n
The violence in the Muslim half of Siri Sori village on
\nSaparua Island was preceded by a Molotov cocktail attack by
\nChristian villagers before dawn, Abdul Majid, the head of the
\nMuslim side of Siri Sori village told The Jakarta Post by phone.<\/p>\n
\"People from the Christian side of Siri Sori village attacked
\nus with home-made bombs at around 2:30 a.m. and they were aided
\nby people from outside the village,\" Abdul said.<\/p>\n
He said three of the 16 villages on Saparua island are Muslim
\nvillages. \"But Muslim Siri Sori is the only Muslim village in
\nSoutheast Saparua,\" Abdul said.<\/p>\n
He said the fighting in Muslim Siri Sori, about six kilometers
\nsoutheast of the main town Saparua, was still going on around
\nmidday, with villagers carrying guns and other weapons.<\/p>\n
\"One man died and four others were injured,\" he said, adding a
\npolice elite mobile brigade unit had been sent to the area.<\/p>\n
A similar report was given by Antara who said a home-made bomb
\nexploded in southeast Saparua Island on Monday morning. It did
\nnot give the exact site, however.<\/p>\n
It said the military commander of Ambon and Lease islands, Lt.
\nCol. Aris Martanto, along with a group of religious leaders, the
\nlocal police chief and government officials were flown in from
\nthe Maluku capital of Ambon by two helicopters to Saparua but
\nfailed to reach the site.<\/p>\n
\"We could not reach the location as people carrying sharp
\nweapons crowded the roads from Saparua to the southeast part of
\nthe island,\" Aris was quoted as saying upon his return to Ambon.<\/p>\n
He was also quoted as saying that a woman wielding a machete
\nthreatened the team not to enter the area.<\/p>\n
Antara quoted a source at a monitoring post in Ambon as saying
\nthat one person was killed and another was injured in the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
It also quoted Ambon Mayor Chris Tanasale as saying on Monday
\nthe city administration pledged to immediately rebuild the Gambus
\nand Gotong Royong markets to revive the city's economy.<\/p>\n
Widespread clashes between Muslims and Christians have shaken
\nthe Maluku islands since Jan. 19, claiming at least 105 lives and
\ncausing over Rp 5 billion in property damage.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, violence also erupted in Hulaliu village
\non Haruku island and in Saparua, in which 11 people were killed,
\naccording to police. The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI)
\ncharged then that six people were actually shot by police
\nofficers who ambushed the villagers, while the Justice Party said
\nthe toll in that incident was actually much higher: 15 Muslims
\nand 13 Christians.<\/p>\n
The initial violence in the city of Ambon, which erupted on
\nthe Idul Fitri holiday, was sparked by a dispute between a Muslim
\nmigrant and a local Christian public transport driver, which
\ndegenerated into full-blown sectarian riots.<\/p>\n
Ambon city, once noted for its religious harmony, became a war
\nzone, suffering widespread destruction and mayhem causing tens of
\nthousands to take shelter in churches, mosques and military
\ncamps. (byg)<\/p>",
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