Ambon crippled by violence

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Ambon was totally crippled on Tuesday as it became a "war zone" after three days of fighting claimed 55 lives.

Schools, offices and markets were closed, while many women and children, especially in families living in the eastern part of the city, have been evacuated by relatives to safer places.

No official confirmation on the death toll could be obtained but information collected from the Al-Fatah, Bhakti Rahayu and Dr Haulussy Hospitals showed that at least 55 people have died in the last three days.

"No official confirmation on the death toll could be made. People find it hard to move from one place to another. But the local TVRI television station confirmed the number of dead," a local resident, who had just taken his three-month-old baby and wife to a hiding place, said.

After a peaceful Christmas, Ambon was again rocked by violence following a street accident in which a young Muslim teenager was hit by a Christian driver on Sunday.

The incident sparked another round of bloody clashes as the Silo Church in the city was burned down later in the evening.

Even heavy rain on Tuesday afternoon could not quell the boiling rage.

A building belonging to state-owned electric company PT PLN, located just 50 meters away from the church, was also burned on Tuesday.

Anyone that was out on the streets seemed target to sniper or mob attacks.

A Japanese man, identified as Ono, 24, was reportedly being treated at Bhakti Rahayu Hospital after being shot on Tuesday afternoon. He was crossing a street with two other colleagues when a sniper shot him.

According to Antara, Ono worked at a pearl company there.

Many residents have questioned the impartiality of security officers in the city as the violence and destruction continues unabated.

Many are said to be stunned by the fact that Silo Church was burned down while hundreds of soldiers were roaming nearby streets.

On Monday, the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) said that if the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police could not take responsibility for security then international peacekeepers should be brought in.

The communion, in a statement, said what was occurring in Ambon was the "extermination" of the local population.

Transfer

In a late breaking development, Maluku police set in motion provisions for a transfer of command of security responsibility to the TNI late Tuesday night.

Pattimura Military Command Chief Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela confirmed that Maluku Police Chief Brig. Gen. Dewa Astika had been ordered by National Police Chief Gen. Roesmanhadi to transfer operational command of Ambon.

"But I still have to wait for orders from TNI Chief. So security coordination of Ambon and the surrounding area is still under police," he said here as quoted by Antara.

Tamaela admits the situation was fast deteriorating, describing Ambon as "a war zone".

Meanwhile, in Jakarta, TNI chief Adm. Widodo admitted that security forces were having difficulty carrying out their security task in Ambon.

"We're faced with a wide area so we cannot fully carry out our territorial security approach in dealing with the rioters," Widodo said.

He said the deployment of military personnel in the area was only meant to prevent a worsening of the situation and not to fight against feuding groups.

When asked about accusations that the soldiers were involved in distributing weapons in the sectarian clashes, Widodo retorted: "If we find any signal on that we'll look for them."

In Yogyakarta, political observer Samsu Rizal Panggabean urged President Abdurrahman Wahid to replace the existing security forces posted in Ambon with new personnel.

The researcher, from the Center for Peace and Security Studies at Gadjah Mada University, claimed the presiding security forces "have become part of the conflicting parties".

Rizal told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday he agreed with PGI's statement that the military and police were responsible for the unresolved conflict, arguing that the impartiality of the security forces had deepened the social segregation.

However, he disagreed the idea of inviting international peace keeping forces. "We understand the problems in our own country better than any other parties." (48/27/emf/sur)