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Seven policemen to go on
trial for Maluku killings

Muhammad Azis Tunny
The Jakarta Post
Ambon, Maluku

Seven police officers will go on trial at the Ambon District
Court for the killing of two civilians during the 1999-2002
sectarian conflict.

Fauzi Marabessy of the Ambon Prosecutor's Office said on
Saturday that the local attorney's office had handed over the
dossiers of the seven suspects to the court and they would stand
trial soon.

Jimmi Christian Samma, Matheos Sarimolle and Anthony Siwabessy
face murder charges for their alleged involvement in the killing
of Syaiful Ibrahim, a resident of Batumerah subdistrict in Ambon.
The remaining four -- Rusman Alfat, Jusuf Baadu and Izak Kaitjili
-- will be charged with involvement in the killing of another
civilian during a trip from Lease Island to Ambon.

There was no detailed information about the killings. Maluku
Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Endro Prasetyo said that the police
had strong evidence against the suspects.

A number of security officers have been jailed for involvement
in similar cases during the conflict.

More than 5,000 people were killed and more than 75,000 others
displaced during the bloody conflict, which first broke out on
Jan. 19, 1999. Some people are still staying in refuge camps for
fear that fresh violence will break out since the condition in
some areas has yet to return to normal.

Meanwhile, authorities in Ambon said that 6,000 Muslim
families who are still taking refuge in Baguala Bay would
gradually be sent back to their home villages in Poka and
Rumahtiga districts.

Baguala Bay district chief Yan Haumase said on the weekend
that 240 families would be sent back home early this week in the
first phase.

"They have to be sent back home because the houses they have
occupied for more than four years will be returned to their
owners. They will receive financial assistance to rebuild their
houses," said, adding that they took refuge after their houses
were burned down on July 24, 1999.

Haumase said that the local police and military had given
assurances that they would protect the people after they left the
refuge camps.