Two more bodies found in Ambon, death toll hits 21<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two bodies with stab wounds were discovered on
\nFriday at Yos Sudarso port and two people died in an intervillage
\nclash on Thursday, raising the death toll in Ambon this week to
\n21.<\/p>\n
A military spokesman reported earlier 15 people had been
\nkilled by Wednesday. This figure rose after a man died late
\nWednesday of gunshot wounds and a body was found by residents on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
The bodies discovered at the port were taken to Perigi Lama
\nPolice Hospital and had yet to be identified.<\/p>\n
Military and church sources said on Friday the intervillage
\nclash involved thousands of residents from the predominantly
\nChristian Wai village and the predominantly Muslim villages of
\nTulehu and Liang, east of downtown Ambon.<\/p>\n
\"The two killed were Simon Tio and Poli Pakarpessy,\" a source
\nat the Maranatha coordination post told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Such posts were established after violence in the province
\nerupted in January, killing 300 people and forcing tens of
\nthousands to flee their homes.<\/p>\n
A spokesman at the military command confirmed that two people
\ndied in the clash, but would not reveal their identities.<\/p>\n
The Maluku capital of Ambon remained tense on Friday and
\nbusinesses were closed. A few public transportation vehicles were
\nseen but there were few people on the streets, residents said.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said a resident was stabbed on Friday in Ambon Plaza
\nand was taken to the hospital. It was unclear if the stabbing was
\nlinked to the unrest.<\/p>\n
Dozens of shops in Ambon belonging to ethnic Chinese were set
\non fire earlier in the week, including wholesale stores. Ethnic
\nChinese businesspeople met on Friday with authorities, requesting
\na security guarantee.<\/p>\n
\"We will not leave Ambon; we will continue our businesses here
\nas long as it is safe,\" one of them said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, none of the 35 people arrested since the violence
\nerupted last weekend had been released.<\/p>\n
Thousands of Muslim and Christian residents in the province
\nare still living in refugee centers.<\/p>\n
Many people want vengeance for murdered relatives and
\ndestroyed property, and refugees are among those pelting stones
\nat public transportation vehicles, a resident said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, TVRI television station quoted authorities as
\nsaying that all residents were to hand in their weapons by Aug.
\n5. (48\/anr)<\/p>",
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