Violence returns to Ambon despite emergency status<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): At least one person died and four others
\nwere injured as open clashes erupted here over the weekend,
\nshattering days of calm since the civil emergency status took
\neffect on June 27.<\/p>\n
The incident broke out Saturday at around 1 p.m. local time at
\nthe Poka and Rumahtiga subdistricts, 21 kilometers north of
\nAmbon, and continued until late on Sunday.<\/p>\n
David Yosef, 20, died after being shot in the head during the
\nmorning attack at the disputed Poka area, said Rev. Ferry
\nNahusona of the Sejahtera Poka Church crisis center on Sunday.<\/p>\n
His death brought the death toll to 70 since violence returned
\nhere over the past month. Hundreds have been injured during the
\nperiod.<\/p>\n
People wounded in the weekend fracas were rushed to Halong
\nNaval Base. They mostly suffered from gunshot and bomb shrapnel
\nwounds.<\/p>\n
Dozens of houses and government buildings, including the poly
\ntechnique building of Pattimura University, the university's
\nhousing complex and a high school were burned during the clash.<\/p>\n
Security authorities could not be reached for confirmation,
\nbut the fray was reportedly triggered by a bomb explosion in
\npredominantly Christian Poka area.<\/p>\n
\"Masses from both warring camps came face to face before
\npeople from the neighboring predominantly Muslim Jasirah Leihutu
\nsubdistrict attacked Poka and Rumahtiga area,\" Ferry said.<\/p>\n
\"We immediately called for help from the Pattimura Military
\nchief (Col. I Made Yasa) because no troops were available here.\"<\/p>\n
Security forces from the 509th Battalion of the Army's
\nStrategic Reserved Command (Kostrad) and the local military
\ncommand were immediately deployed to quell the fray.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Saturday, civil emergency chief Governor Saleh
\nLatuconsina urged the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) not to send its Ansor
\nYouth Movement's task force Banser to Ambon as it could worsen
\nthe situation.<\/p>\n
\"I actually do not object to the plan, especially because they
\nhave good intentions. But many things could happen upon their
\narrival in Ambon. So I would call on the NU leaders to carefully
\nconsider such a plan,\" Latuconsina said.<\/p>\n
Aceh<\/p>\n
Renewed violence also broke out in Aceh on Sunday, leaving
\nthree officers of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) dead and
\nfive others severely injured. The police fell victim to a grenade
\nattack in the Nisam district, 30 kilometers southeast of
\nLhokesumawe, the main town in North Aceh, which took place around
\n4:15 p.m. local time.<\/p>\n
First Sgt. Heriyanto, First Sgt. Hermawan and Second Sgt.
\nRinaldi died instantly when an armed gang ambushed their pick-up,
\nSenior Superintendent Ridwan Karim of the joint committee on
\nsecurity modalities said in Banda Aceh later in the day.<\/p>\n
All victims were taken to Lilawangsa Military Hospital in
\nLhokseumawe.<\/p>\n
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) representative to the committee
\nTengku Nasiruddin bin Ahmad refused to comment. He said he was
\nstill checking the incident, which was the most serious clash
\nsince the humanitarian pause was enacted on June 2, with GAM
\nmembers on the ground. (49\/50\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/violence-returns-to-ambon-despite-emergency-status-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}