One policeman killed in Ambon gunfights<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): One policeman was killed and 17 police and
\nmarine personnel injured during overnight gunfights between the
\ntwo groups, an officer said on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"The policeman who died in the fray was First Brig. Erinus
\nSaragih and his body has been flown to Jakarta,\" Maluku Police
\nchief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani told The Jakarta Post by phone.<\/p>\n
\"The situation is now under control and everything is OK. The
\ndispute took place because the troops were tense,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Firman said the dispute was triggered by a minor
\nmisunderstanding between a member of the police's Mobile Brigade
\n(Brimob) and a group of marines.<\/p>\n
\"The two units are actually close companions. On Thursday, a
\nBrimob officer went shopping near the Halong Naval Base. As he
\nwas not wearing his uniform some marines became suspicious of him
\nand beat him ... only to learn later that he is a policeman.<\/p>\n
\"The incident degenerated into gunfights near Lateri and Passo
\nvillages and a member of the Water Police, Erinus, was killed by
\na stray bullet,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Twelve policeman were treated at Latumeten Army Hospital in
\nAmbon, while five marines were hospitalized at the Halong Navy
\nHospital.<\/p>\n
The incident caused panic among residents, who locked
\nthemselves into their homes or fled the area.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that gunfights such as these never take place
\nagain ... security forces should be our protectors, they should
\nnot be fighting each other,\" a local resident said.<\/p>\n
Several offices in Lateri and Passo villages in Teluk Ambon
\nBaguala were damaged during the melee.<\/p>\n
In a separate development, Firman said he has replaced Comr.
\nAbdi Darma Sitepu, who was to become the Brimob chief n Maluku,
\nwith Adj. Sr. Comr. Hapsoro, who is due to arrive in Ambon in the
\nnext few days.<\/p>\n
Abdi Darma had just arrived in Ambon and was staying in the
\nHotel Wijaya II when a joint military force raided the hotel on
\nJan. 22, arresting 14 police and military personnel allegedly
\ninvolved in rogue shootings during a fray in Batu Merah. Abdi
\nalso was arrested in the raid, but he was later released.<\/p>\n
\"Abdi will become a Brimob battalion commander at Brimob's
\nbase in Kelapa Dua, Jakarta. I think he does not yet have the
\nnecessary field experience to lead the squad in Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"Psychologically, it is also hard for him to lead the Brimob
\nin Maluku because of the incident at Hotel Wijaya II,\" Firman
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He also said that the 14 police and military personnel
\narrested at Hotel Wijaya II would be prosecuted by the military
\npolice.<\/p>\n
\"Although the National Police is now directly under the
\npresident's supervision, the law on court-martials has not been
\nchanged. So the 12 police officers (arrested at the hotel) will
\nbe tried in the military court,\" Firman said<\/p>\n
He also said he believed the investigation into the incident,
\nwhich is being led by the intelligence assistant to the
\nIndonesian Military chief of general affairs, Brig. Gen.
\nZulfahmi, was fair and impartial.<\/p>\n
Soldiers from a special joint security force -- comprising
\nmembers of the Navy's marines, the Air Force's Paskhas and the
\nArmy's Kopassus -- apprehended 14 military and police personnel
\nwho allegedly shot at them as they were attempting to quell riots
\nthat had claimed the lives of 10 people. The security force
\nseized from the 14 suspects bullets, several guns and two grams
\nof shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine). (edt\/49)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/one-policeman-killed-in-ambon-gunfights-1447893297",
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