Six killed in Ambon violence<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): At least six people were killed and 50
\nothers injured on Sunday when security personnel opened fire to
\ndisperse warring groups at the border between Batu Merah and
\nMardika districts.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said the clash, which began at around 3 p.m. local
\ntime, also resulted in at least four houses in the predominantly
\nChristian Mardika district being set alight. They said the
\nconflicting groups used homemade weapons and bombs.<\/p>\n
The wounded, mostly suffering from gunshot wounds, were taken
\nto Dr. Haulussy General Hospital, Protestant Maluku Church (GPM)
\nHospital and Al Fatah Hospital.<\/p>\n
Many were injured by stray bullets from security officers.<\/p>\n
The fatalities were identified as Steven Ruhulessin, 40,
\nIbrahim bin Umar, 60, Wawan, 18, Effendi Kiat, 35, Muhamad Saleh,
\n23 and Ahmad Alu, 50. The six were reportedly shot by troops in
\nan attempt to scatter the crowds.<\/p>\n
Four officers were also injured in the fray, three of them
\nmilitary members and one a police officer from the Mobile Brigade
\n(Brimob) unit.<\/p>\n
It was the second clash within less than a week to rock the
\nprovincial capital. At least three people were killed when mobs
\nthrew homemade bombs at a speedboat off Benteng Gudang Arang on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Tension gripped the town following the shootings, but
\nPattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela said as of 8
\np.m local time the situation in the area was under control.<\/p>\n
In a bid to quickly restore order, the usual 10 p.m curfew was
\nput forward by an hour.<\/p>\n
\"The 9.00 pm curfew will remain until further developments. I
\nhave issued a shoot-on-sight order to anyone who instigates
\nriots,\" Tamaela said on Sunday night.<\/p>\n
\"It is very obvious that certain parties don't want peace to
\nreturn in Ambon. I urge people to stay calm,\" he said.<\/p>\n
When asked whether the incident was related to the recent
\ncampaign by Muslim hardliners for a jihad in the province,
\nTamaela simply said: \"Leave that matter to us (the security
\nforces). We have all been suffering for quite sometime and I
\npersonally will not let this reconciliation effort break into
\npieces.\"<\/p>\n
The violence took place in the same area where 15 months of
\nsectarian conflict across the Maluku islands started in January
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
More than 2,000 people were killed in the prolonged violence,
\nwhich also left thousands of homes and buildings destroyed and
\nhundreds of thousands of people fleeing to safety in other
\nislands and provinces.<\/p>\n
Clashes have subsided in recent months but tension remains in
\nsome regions, particularly North Maluku.<\/p>\n
It is reported that the Sunday fray was sparked by a bomb
\nblast near Victoria theater in the predominantly Muslim Batu
\nMerah area earlier in the day. Angry residents later attacked the
\nneighboring Mardika area to seek revenge.<\/p>\n
Sammy Waileruni, a local lawyer, speculated that the security
\nforces let the mob trespass between 200 meters and 400 meters
\ninto the territory of the rival camp.<\/p>\n
\"They should have passed three security posts watched over by
\nthe Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) of the 303
\nBattalion. How come they got so far?\" Sammy said.<\/p>\n
The violence took place just a few days after Vice President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri's third visit to Maluku, which included a
\ntrip to Ambon and several other islands in the area to promote
\nreconciliation and peace.<\/p>\n
During her visit, Megawati also launched the Navy's Surya
\nBhaskara Jaya operation to help rebuild towns and villages
\ndestroyed during the unrest. The Rp 6.5 billion project,
\ninvolving 11 Navy ships, is said to be the biggest of its kind
\never launched by the Navy. (48\/49\/edt)<\/p>",
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