Ambon unrest claims four more victims

Ambon unrest claims four more victims

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Four died in continuing unrest involving
thousands of people in West Seram and in the provincial capital
of Ambon on Saturday.

In Piru, West Seram, Maluku Police chief Col. Bugis M. Saman
said hundreds of homes in three hamlets here were set on fire in
the latest unrest, which broke out last week.

One person died in the violence, but he did not identify the
victim.

In Ambon, thousands of people attacked the Mardika market and
set fire to at least 15 shop-houses at 5 p.m.

Witnesses said the attackers came from the direction of the
nearby Muslim-dominated Al Fatah area in several vehicles. They
wore white headbands, which is the sign of Muslims here.

Some 30 security personnel in the area prevented the mob from
entering the nearby Bethel Church.

The crowd then proceeded to throw at least one homemade bomb
and a Molotov cocktail at the shop-houses before setting fire to
the buildings.

During the clash with security personnel three people died of
gunshot wounds, but officers said they could not be sure the
shots were fired by the military. At least five were injured
including a soldier.

Security personnel are conducting sweeps to confiscate arms
from civilians.

The dead were identified as La Amu, 60, and Muhammad
Marasabessy, 42. Antara reported another victim was La Dili but
did not mention his age.

Military police were seen escorting a low-ranking soldier to a
vehicle. An officer who requested anonymity said the second
sergeant was suspected of having incited the riot.

"He looked drunk," the officer said, while another said the
soldier appeared to be "possessed".

Firefighters were able to make their way through the crowd a
few hours later and the situation was said to be under control by
8 p.m. Military and police authorities could not be reached for
comment.

The majority of Mardika market, which is near a Christian-
dominated residential area, was burned down in the communal riots
in January. In anticipation of continuing violence, security
personnel are guarding several locations in the town.

Unrest also took place last week on Halmahera Island in North
Maluku. This latest violence has prompted the halting of all
commercial flights from and to Pattimura Airport in Ambon.

The Ministry of Communications has asked for a security
guarantee from Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian
Military Commander Gen. Wiranto before reopening the airport.

Meanwhile, AFP reported on Saturday from The Hague
that Dutch premier Wim Kok called on Friday on the Indonesian
government to help prevent a worsening of the situation in Ambon.

In a statement, Kok said he understood the "feeling of unease"
among the Moluccan community, many of whose forefathers served in
the Dutch armed forces before Indonesia gained its independence
from the former colonial power.

Kok also said he wanted to meet with representatives of the
Moluccan community in the Netherlands, the news agency reported.

"I want to listen and explain the standpoint of the Dutch
government," Kok said, expressing his "grave concern" about the
situation in Ambon.

Kok was reacting to a demonstration held in The Hague on
Thursday involving up to 1,000 protesters, which ended in
scuffles when riot police blocked the march from proceeding to
the Indonesian Embassy.

The protesters demanded the intervention of the United
Nations, the European Union and the Netherlands to stop the
violence in Ambon.

Col. Bugis said some 117 people had been killed and 394 others
injured since renewed religious clashes broke out on July 27 on
the troubled island. (48/anr)