Ambon refugees stranded in Taliabu

Ambon refugees stranded in Taliabu

JAKARTA (JP): More than 100 people fleeing sectarian violence
in the Maluku capital of Ambon have been stranded in West Taliabu
district, North Maluku regency, for more than a week after their
boat developed engine trouble.

They were en route on the Harapan Muda from Kairatu in Central
Maluku to their hometown of Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi.

Antara quoted sources at the North Maluku Military Command as
saying the 105 passengers -- more than half aged from six years
to 15 years -- were stranded on March 10 when the boat's engine
broke down. They are now sheltered at the Taliabu Military
Command.

"They are in good health and have received food supplies from
local offices and traders," according to First Lt. Hertoyo.

"We don't know when they will be able to set sail again."

Thousands of people have been displaced following clashes
between Muslims and Christians in the provinces. Some officials
estimate 60,000 Muslims -- many originally from Southeast
Sulawesi and South Sulawesi -- have fled the unrest which has
left about 200 people dead.

Ambon was reportedly calm on Thursday.

In a dialogue held on Thursday with local community figures in
Buru Utara Timur subdistrict, Central Maluku, Head of the Armed
Forces (ABRI) special team of officers from Maluku, Maj. Gen.
Suaidy Marasabessy called on ABRI members to be proactive in
quelling the unrest.

"Don't just wait for orders," he said as quoted by Antara.

He said ABRI members found to allow violence to go unchecked
would face harsher penalties than those who took action but
violated procedures, Marasabessy said.

Marasabessy said an Army captain, identified as MK, arrested
on Tuesday was not a provocateur and was only arrested for
violating procedures.

On Tuesday, Antara reported that a plainclothes Army captain
from local military headquarters fired warning shots as residents
attempted to extinguish fire engulfing houses near a mosque.

The agency also reported the man was seen earlier provoking
Muslims in the area. The man allegedly told Muslims the fire was
started by Christians.

Shots fired by the captain provoked panic among residents.

Marasabessy was also at the scene and seized the gun from the
captain, currently detained by military police in Ambon.

Separately, students in the North Sumatra capital of Medan and
Central Java's capital, Semarang, staged street demonstrations on
Wednesday protesting the spiraling violence in Ambon. (swe/21/har)