Ambon snipers may not be RMS members
Ambon snipers may not be RMS members
M. Azis Tunny and Tiarma Siboro, Ambon/Jakarta
Police have arrested more separatists blamed for triggering
renewed clashes in Ambon, Maluku but failed to explain why they
could not capture snipers still roaming across the eastern city.
The mysterious snipers, who killed several people including
two policemen in days of recent fighting, might not belong to the
South Maluku Republic (RMS) separatist group, outgoing Maluku
Police chief Brig. Gen. Bambang Sutrisno said.
"Currently we are dealing with the RMS. But I can't say the
snipers are its members. They could be from another group," he
said.
In Jakarta, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono
Sutarto said he would deal sternly with any of his soldiers if
they were found to have joined the conflict.
"If people can provide reliable evidence that shows the
involvement of soldiers in the clashes, I will arrest the
soldiers and they will stand trial," he said
However, Endriartono warned he might also sue those who blamed
the TNI for the violence that first broke out on April 25, saying
the military had "no political agenda" in Maluku ahead of the
July 5 presidential election.
The snipers, apparently well-trained and equipped with
automatic rifles, shot their targets from high buildings and
trees in downtown Ambon.
Hot spots for sniper attacks were Tanah Lapang Kecil (Talake),
Waringin and Batugantong -- on the borderlines of Christian and
Muslim communities. Most victims of the snipers were shot in the
head and chest.
These three areas were also the scene of sectarian fighting,
which has killed at least 38 people since April 25.
Bambang and Endriartono did not explain why none of the
snipers had not been captured, although they were operating in
open areas.
The area is occupied by paramilitary police Mobile Brigade
(Brimob) personnel, who arrived from Jakarta soon after the April
25 to prevent further attacks.
Maluku Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Endro Prasetyo said Brimob
officers had combed areas for snipers and fired shots at several
of them.
"Several snipers have been shot but their identities remain
unknown because they were immediately rescued by their
accomplices," he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Elsewhere on Wednesday morning, gunmen in a speedboat shot
dead a boy and injured a girl on Wamkarna Beach in Buru, Maluku.
They also killed a 38-year-old man, Obet Lesnussa, in the
neighboring village of Wainalut, church leader Jacky Manuputty
said. Residents fled the two villages after the incident.
On May 1, gunmen in a boat targeted 19 fishermen sailing off
Latuhalat village in Nusaniwe, Ambon. One man was killed, while
the others survived by jumping into the sea.
The fisherman told the Suara Maluku newspaper the attackers
were dressed in green military-like uniforms and were armed with
automatic guns. They said the gunmen fired shots at them from
about 10 meters away.
Meanwhile, at least 35 separatists have been detained on
charges of inciting the deadly battles that began after a banned
separatist parade by the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) on April
25. The parade was commemorating the 54th Anniversary of the
group.
The latest violence is the worst since a peace pact in
February 2002 ended three years of religious fighting in Maluku,
in which some 6,000 people died.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar admitted on Wednesday
police had failed to prevent the fresh clashes.
Police in Ambon should have arrested RMS members involved in
the parade and detained them securely, he said.
"Instead, my personnel escorted the convoy of RMS activists
and others to the nearest police office. When the convoy passed
through mainly Muslim areas, it provoked locals to attack," Da'i
told a hearing at the House of Representatives in Jakarta.
On Tuesday, Da'i was praised for firing Maluku Police chief
Bambang Sutrisno for failing to curb the latest violence.