Unrest greets ministers, rights activists in Ambon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Fresh violence on Tuesday greeted the arrival of
\nsix Cabinet ministers and a fact-finding team of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights in the riot-torn city of Ambon,
\nMaluku, where at least 61 people were killed in religious clashes
\nlast month.<\/p>\n
The ministers were sent by President B.J. Habibie to assess
\nthe widespread damage left by more than five days of inter-
\ncommunal troubles between Muslims and Christians.<\/p>\n
Rights activist Benyamin Mangkoedilaga said the latest
\ndisturbance took place at the Mardika market and was sparked by
\nan argument between two people. Security personnel fired warning
\nshots to disperse the crowd, injuring five, according to Antara.<\/p>\n
\"We were visiting Mardika when the violence began and then
\nsecurity forces fired warning shots to disperse the crowd,\" said
\nBenyamin, who was there with fellow rights body member Albert
\nHasibuan.<\/p>\n
Benyamin, who was about to leave the city when contacted by
\nThe Jakarta Post, said the team was visiting a site in Mardika
\nwhen a crowd of machete- and spear-wielding people threatened
\nthem.<\/p>\n
Security personnel quickly intervened and whisked the team to
\nthe safety of the Maluku police headquarters, he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, however, Minister of Defense and Armed Forces
\nChief Gen. Wiranto was quoted by Antara as denying that fresh
\nrioting erupted in Ambon.<\/p>\n
\"It is not true... I just made a phone call to Ambon and
\nreporters said there was no unrest (there),\" Wiranto said
\nfollowing a meeting with Habibie at the Merdeka palace here
\nTuesday. He added that what broke out at the Mardika market was a
\nbrawl stemming from a criminal act. \"It was a fight among
\npassengers (of public transport),\" he said.<\/p>\n
The first outbreak of violence last month took place in
\nMardika.<\/p>\n
The news agency reported that shops and businesses immediately
\nclosed and public transport disappeared from the streets after
\nTuesday's trouble started at around 11 a.m.<\/p>\n
It also said those still on the streets scrambled to find
\nshelter while schoolchildren were rushed to local police
\nstations.<\/p>\n
Security personnel were immediately deployed at a number of
\nlocations as two helicopters hovered over the city.<\/p>\n
Antara said calm was restored and Ambon's streets secured in
\nthe afternoon but troops were still on alert in the riot-prone
\nareas of Taman Makmur, Batu Merah and the Mardika market.<\/p>\n
Military trucks were seen transporting residents from their
\nshelters in military complexes, churches and mosques back to
\ntheir homes.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the six ministers went straight to the office of
\nGovernor Saleh Latuconsina and met the local administration and
\nmilitary commander before flying back to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The Cabinet members were Coordinating Minister for People's
\nWelfare and Poverty Eradication Haryono Suyono, Forestry Minister
\nMuslimin Nasution, Public Works Minister Rachmadi Bambang
\nSumadhijo, Health Minister F.A. Moeloek, Religious Affairs
\nMinister Malik Fajar and Social Services Minister Yustika S.
\nBaharsyah.<\/p>\n
Habibie on Monday instructed the ministers to visit Ambon to
\nassess the damage and to start organizing assistance to rebuild
\nthe city that he once held up as a model of religious harmony.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Habibie told visiting church representatives here
\non Tuesday the government would do its utmost to find those
\nresponsible for the string of recent attacks on religious groups
\nand their properties.<\/p>\n
David Gill, who was leading a delegation from the World
\nCouncil of Churches, said Habibie assured him that \"everything
\npossible will be done to find those who are responsible.\"<\/p>\n
The delegation included church representatives from Hong Kong,
\nthe Philippines, Australia and the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
The government also strongly condemned attacks on mosques and
\nchurches as well as on specific ethnic groups, said Gill, the
\nsecretary general of the National Council of Churches of
\nAustralia.<\/p>\n
Ambon was hit by at least five days of unrest that started on
\nJan. 19 following a dispute between a migrant Muslim and a
\nChristian public transport driver. It spread to other islands in
\nthe province, leaving at least 61 dead and 50 others injured.<\/p>\n
The violence also caused damages to more than 700 houses, 13
\nhouses of worship, 3 traditional markets, 82 kiosks, 2 banks, 1
\ngovernment office, 1 hotel, 1 movie theater, 20 cars, 11
\nmotorcycles, and 216 pedicabs.<\/p>\n
The riots had also forced more than 20,000 people to seek
\nrefuge in military camps, mosques, churches, and other public
\nfacilities. (byg\/prb\/rms\/27)<\/p>",
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