Ambon residents stock up in anticipation of violence

Ambon residents stock up in anticipation of violence

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Residents in Ambon on Wednesday stocked up
in anticipation of violence expected on Thursday.

The police and Military chiefs issued appeals that residents
refrain from violence and should not be influenced by rumors.
Meanwhile various unofficial papers have published reports of
expected unrest, adding to anxiety here.

"Some of the circulars said Muslims were going to attack and
others said Christians were going to move," a resident said.

Some were signed and others were not, he added. He said his
family had bought supplies for a week.

Residents late on Wednesday were seen preparing to begin their
night watch.

"If everyone refrains from violence we will be able to see who
is instigating the unrest," Military Commander Brig.Gen. Max
Tamaela said. "Those circulating the rumors do not understand the
conditions here," he said.

The tension has been building up for the past few weeks due to
rumors of large scale attacks scheduled for Sept. 9.

Christians and Muslims have bristled over accusations that
they are involved in the violence in Maluku which has led to
several hundred being killed since January. Some have accused the
military and police of spreading the rumors.

Both sides have expressed deep distrust of security personnel,
said to be biased against either Muslims or Christians.

Muslims have voiced anger over the implication of "the Muslim
right" in the violence, mentioned by, among others, Muslim leader
Abdurrahman Wahid.

The head of the Protestant Maluku Church, Sammy Titaley, said
here on Monday that the authorities should make clear the
charges, of Christians involved in the separatist Republic of
South Maluku (RMS) movement, based on evidence and arrest them
instead of letting the rumors spread.

Residents said they were unaware of who the RMS people were as
most of them are living in the Netherlands. Both Muslims and
Christians are found in the remnants of the group.

On Monday a statement sent to The Jakarta Post from the Maluku
Islam Front warned humanitarian activist Sandyawan that the
group would not hesitate to conduct "a physical attack" on the
priest's "location of activities" in Jakarta, charging him of
inciting the violence.

"We have never heard of him," a Christian resident here said.

Front coordinator Faizal Assegaf had cited "reliable sources"
in Maluku. The Front had also demanded that the current Maluku
police chief Col. Bugis Saman and Military commander Brig.Gen.
Max Tamaela be replaced, saying they could not be trusted.

On Wednesday the Military commander said so far there was no
evidence of either group being involved in separatist movements.

Governor Saleh Latuconsina said the Pattimura airport was
safe. Until Wednesday there were no commercial flights operating.
Saleh told reporters he had again written to the management of
the airport and airlines to reopen commercial flights.

"The Yos Sudarso port is also safe," he said, although people
going to and from the port have said they must be accompanied by
security personnel to avoid being harmed on the way.

Many residents have fled by ship to Manado in North Sulawesi
and to Irian Jaya.

On Tuesday the Ambon mayoralty commemorated the 424th
anniversary of the town without fanfare.

"The commemoration is simple because the city is in shambles,
and revenue has slid to zero while it was previously an average
of Rp 8 billion a year," Ambon mayor Chris Tanasale said.
(48/anr)