Probing of Maluku snipers urgent: ICG<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The immediate identification and prosecution of the snipers
\nwho caused terror in Ambon last month is crucial if further
\nconflict is to be prevented, a noted research center said.<\/p>\n
\"Even if the police arrest every member of the FKM (Maluku
\nSovereignty Front) ... the question of who was responsible for
\nthe killings will remain unanswered,\" said a new report issued by
\nthe Brussels-based International Crisis Group on Monday said.<\/p>\n
\"It is the snipers, more than a short-sighted police force or
\na small group of rowdy but unarmed separatists, who have mostly
\nundermined peace in Ambon,\" the report said.<\/p>\n
On April 25 the FKM held a much publicized annual flag-raising
\nevent to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Republic of
\nSouth Maluku (RMS), which it is officially claimed led to renewed
\nviolence, the deaths of 39 people and the torching of buildings
\nat a time when residents were still trying to get over the
\ncommunal conflict that lasted from 1999 to 2002, in which
\nthousands were killed, and for which few have been brought to
\njustice.<\/p>\n
The ICG noted the absence of official autopsies on the victims
\nof the violence, which lasted for about a week. Many of the
\nvictims were shot in the neck, eyes or chest, revealing high
\nlevels of marksmanship, especially in light of the testimony by
\nwitnesses that the fatal shots were fired from afar.<\/p>\n
The ICG, which in Indonesia is headed by former rights
\nactivist Sidney Jones, argued that the facts so far do not
\nsupport theories blaming the FKM, Christian or Islamic radicals,
\nor parties supporting particular presidential candidates,
\nincluding those with military backgrounds, who might be seeking
\nto benefit from renewed turmoil ahead of the July 5 presidential
\npoll.<\/p>\n
The report pointed instead to \"bad decisions\", such as the
\ntransfer on April 8 of the experienced Lt. Col. Yudi Zanibar, who
\nheaded the city's district military command, and has been
\npromoted to a new posting in Ternate, North Maluku.<\/p>\n
This was one sign that the authorities did not perceive the
\nFKM as a serious security threat, the ICG said.<\/p>\n
Apart from a much criticized decision by the police to escort
\nthe FKM's secretary-general Moses Tuanakotta to the local police
\nstation on foot from FKM headquarters, drawing a large crowd of
\nhis supporters in the process, the ICG noted how Governor Karel
\nAlbert Ralahalu failed to exert his authority to enforce
\ncooperation between the police and military.<\/p>\n
Th ICG quashed hopes that Ambon had seen the last of communal
\nviolence, pointing to the \"diametrically opposed versions\" of
\nwhat had happened. The report cites how Muslim organizations and
\nofficials blame \"separatists\", while Christian leaders say such a
\nview \"legitimizes violence by the side seen as defending the
\ncountry's unity\".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/probing-of-maluku-snipers-urgent-icg-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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