Violence rocks Maluku after week of calm<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): A church in the Central Maluku regency
\ncapital of Masohi was burned in a bomb blast as fresh violence
\nrocked the province on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The attack broke weeks of calm in Maluku after a year of
\nsectarian conflict which left thousands dead and displaced.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said a group of people marched from Binaya market to
\nZebaot Church at about 7:00 a.m. local time before a deafening
\nblast was heard in the church compound.<\/p>\n
The house of a preacher located inside the compound was also
\nburned in the attack, local residents said.<\/p>\n
\"About 30 minutes later Christians flocked to the church and
\nwere about to march to a nearby mosque, but security personnel
\nfrom Infantry Battalion 611 kept them at bay,\" a resident, who
\nrequested anonymity, said.<\/p>\n
He said the crowd clashed with the military troops, with a
\nyouth identified as Emus Siahainemia sustaining a gunshot wound
\nto his chest. The young man is in critical condition, the witness
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela confirmed
\nthe incident, saying he had ordered his troops to take stern
\naction against any attempt to provoke unrest.<\/p>\n
Maluku Police spokesman Maj. Jekriel Philips also confirmed
\nthe clash, but refused to speculate about which groups were
\ninvolved in the violence.<\/p>\n
Another incident occurred on the island of Morotai, North
\nMaluku, early on Monday, leaving 32 houses and three churches
\ndamaged. No fatalities were reported in the unrest.<\/p>\n
The violence comes after military personnel seized 4,000
\nweapons from warring groups in Maluku. The weapons, including
\nhomemade rifles and bombs, were dumped into the sea on Monday in
\nthe latest effort to stop sectarian clashes in the province.<\/p>\n
The Mina Raya 05 dumped the weapons seized during the Jan. 2
\nto Feb. 19 arms sweep into the waters of Tanjung Alang.<\/p>\n
Tamaela, Governor Saleh Latuconsina, Maluku Police chief Brig.
\nGen. I Dewa Astika and Muslim and Christian leaders were present
\non board the ship.<\/p>\n
The military chief said the event should mark the end of hard
\nfeelings among Maluku residents.<\/p>\n
\"Please do not illegally assemble or make rifles which could
\nendanger other people's lives, or the law enforcers will take
\naction.<\/p>\n
\"These weapons are not evidence in criminal cases or anything.
\nWe keep all evidence at the police station until the trials
\nbegin,\" Tamaela said.<\/p>\n
After the ceremony, Tamaela proceeded to Halong Naval base to
\ngreet 600 new troops from the Brawijaya (East Java) and Jakarta
\nmilitary commands. The new troops replace soldiers from the
\nSiliwangi (West Java) and Sriwijaya (South Sumatra) military
\ncommands.<\/p>\n
Some 15 battalions of security personnel have been sent to
\nMaluku to restore order there. (49\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/violence-rocks-maluku-after-week-of-calm-1447893297",
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