Three more killed in Maluku riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Communal clashes in Southeast Maluku continued
\non Saturday, claiming at least three more lives in Weduarfer, Kei
\nBesar island, a source there said.<\/p>\n
\"Three were killed and two were severely injured when Muslims
\nattacked and burned down Weduarfer and Rerean villages,\" the
\nsource at the Tual mosque said, requesting anonymity.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile on Friday a group of Christians from Oherenan,
\nWeduar and other villages attacked and burnt three nearby Muslim
\nvillages, he said.<\/p>\n
The source told The Jakarta Post the military had been able to
\ncontrol the situation, although Tual remained deserted and most
\npeople in the small city chose not to leave their homes.<\/p>\n
\"No shops are open and no public vehicles are operating,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Police and military chiefs could not be reached to confirm the
\nreports. On Saturday, AFP reported from Ambon that Southeast
\nMaluku Regent Hussein Rahayan put the death toll at 15 including
\nthree who died in the Friday attack.<\/p>\n
Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina, Maluku Military chief Col.
\nKarel Ralahalu and Police chief Col. Bugis Saman visited the area
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
Police and hospital sources said, as of Friday, at least 11
\nhad been killed and 50 injured in the regency since the clashes
\nerupted on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The violence follows similar communal riots in the Maluku
\ncapital of Ambon, which left about 200 people dead.<\/p>\n
About 13,000 people fleeing violence in Tual and surrounding
\nareas were sheltered at nine centers in the city. Antara reported
\nthat 2,500 people were staying at the Dumatubun Air Force base,
\n2,000 at Tual Navy base, 3,000 at the local police station, and
\n500 at Fransiscus Xaverius Catholic church.<\/p>\n
Refugees complained of food shortages, despite the assurances
\nof Regent Husein Rahayan that he had supplied at least five tons
\nof rice to the shelters. There were also demands for more medical
\nsupplies.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the government will give attention to these
\nrefugees,\" Husein said. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-more-killed-in-maluku-riots-1447893297",
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