Security forces fire warning shots in riot-torn Ambon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Tensions again rose in the ravaged Maluku
\ncapital of Ambon on Tuesday when a fire mysteriously broke out
\nand a security officer fired warning shots to disperse
\nspectators.<\/p>\n
Triyono, a staff member at Al Fatah Mosque, told The Jakarta
\nPost by phone from Ambon the fire, which gutted nine houses,
\noccurred near the mosque.<\/p>\n
\"The fire broke out at around 3 p.m. in a Muslim area on Jl.
\nBaru and then a plainclothes security officer suddenly opened
\nfire to disperse the crowd,\" Triyono said, adding the officer was
\nlater arrested.<\/p>\n
He said the cause of the fire was not known but quoted
\nresidents as saying they saw a man setting fire to one of the
\nhouses. A number of other residents, however, said the fire was
\ncaused by a short circuit.<\/p>\n
\"Rumors started circulating that the fire had been set by
\nagitators, so the residents became tense,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Semmy Waileruny, the coordinator of a team of lawyers from
\nMaranatha Church, also said the cause of the fire was not known.<\/p>\n
\"Some residents said it was caused by an electrical short,
\nothers said it was set deliberately,\" Semmy told the Post.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that a plainclothes Army captain from the
\nlocal military headquarters fired warning shots as residents
\nattempted to put out the fire. The news agency reported that the
\ncaptain was arrested.<\/p>\n
The news agency also reported the man was seen earlier
\nprovoking Muslim residents in the area to attack Christians. The
\ncaptain allegedly told Muslims the fire was started by
\nChristians.<\/p>\n
The news agency said that Maj. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy, who
\nleads a special military task force of 19 locally born officers,
\nwas seen on the streets soothing angry residents in the area.<\/p>\n
Pattimura Regional Military Commander Col. Karel Ralahalu
\nwarned earlier this week stern actions would be taken against
\nthose who incited riots.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Asia director of Human Rights Watch, Sidney
\nJones, called on the government to make public any hard evidence
\nof provocation, to investigate allegations of bias in the
\nbehavior of security forces called in to quell the violence in
\nthe province and to acknowledge the terrible losses Muslims and
\nChristians have suffered.<\/p>\n
\"Whether or not the violence in Ambon was provoked, communal
\ntensions there were explosive,\" Jones said in a report, a copy of
\nwhich was made available to the Post on Tuesday. (byg)<\/p>",
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