Seven killed, dozen hurt in new Ambon violence<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At least seven people were killed and many more
\ninjured in the Maluku capital of Ambon on Saturday after troops
\nopened fire to disperse battling mobs of Christians and Muslims.<\/p>\n
A local journalist told The Jakarta Post by phone the latest
\nviolence erupted in the Batumerah area of Ambon before noon,
\nduring a procession of people carrying a torch symbolizing the
\nspirit of Pattimura, a hero who led a rebellion against Dutch
\nrule in the early 19th century.<\/p>\n
He said a Muslim group from Batumerah carrying the torch to
\nthe main celebration site in downtown Ambon refused to hand the
\ntorch over as scheduled to a Christian group from the neighboring
\nMardika area.<\/p>\n
The journalist said Muslims traditionally have carried the
\ntorch to a field where the ceremony honoring Pattimura is held.
\nBut this year local organizers said Christians would carry the
\ntorch to the field.<\/p>\n
Batumerah has been the center of months of clashes between
\nMuslims and Christians in Ambon and other islands in the
\nprovince. More than 300 people have died since the clashes first
\nerupted in mid-January.<\/p>\n
Saturday's violence occurred only three days after the
\nconflicting parties signed a peace deal in a ceremony attended by
\nIndonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto.<\/p>\n
Antara said troops opened fire to disperse the battling
\ncrowds, but angry mobs ran to nearby areas and set a number of
\nhouses on fire. At least five cars also were vandalized.<\/p>\n
Chris Relmasira, head of Protestant Maluku Church Hospital,
\ntold the Post at least 3 people died of gunshot wounds at the
\nhospital.<\/p>\n
\"At least 13 people suffering from gunshot wounds were
\nadmitted to the hospital. Three died, four are still being
\ntreated and six were discharged earlier in the afternoon,\" Chris
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said the three who died were teenagers Agus Manuputih,
\nFranky Pitris and Kormasela.<\/p>\n
Randi, a staff member at Ambon General Hospital, said William
\nManuhutu died at the hospital while three other victims were
\nstill being treated. A nurse at Bakti Rahayu Hospital said three
\npeople died at her hospital.<\/p>\n
\"They were Peter Anloy, 40, Simon Watimena, 48, and Albert
\nPitipeuw, 45,\" Lin told the Post.<\/p>\n
The local journalist said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Soebagyo
\nHadisiswoyo was in the city when the violence broke out on
\nSaturday to preside over the inauguration of a new military
\ncommand.<\/p>\n
\"The ceremony went on as scheduled amid the sound of warning
\nshots and smoke,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Maluku previously was under the Trikora Military Command based
\nin the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura.<\/p>\n
Benny, a staffer from the Indonesian Red Cross who has been
\nin Ambon since March to carry out relief operations, told the
\nPost that as night fell the city was still tense and the streets
\nwere deserted. (byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/seven-killed-dozen-hurt-in-new-ambon-violence-1447893297",
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