At least 15 killed in Ambon clash

At least 15 killed in Ambon clash

JAKARTA (JP): Tension gripped the Maluku capital of Ambon on
Tuesday as renewed violence erupted between Muslims and
Christians, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 100
others, according to police and hospital sources.

Maluku Police spokesman Maj. Jekriel Philip, citing reports
from three local hospitals -- Haulusi General Hospital, Al-Fatah
Hospital and Protestant Maluku Church Hospital -- said that as of
5 p.m. local time on Tuesday, at least 15 people had been killed
and 101 more injured in clashes in Batu Merah and Mardika in
Ambon.

"The situation is still tense but under control, and groups of
people carrying sharp weapons and homemade firearms are still
seen gathering in these areas," Jekriel told The Jakarta Post
from Ambon.

Batu Merah and Mardika have been the center of the clashes
between Muslims and Christians which broke out earlier this year,
leaving more than 350 people dead and a trail of destruction.

Jekriel quoted witnesses as saying this latest round of
violence was triggered by a traffic accident in front of An-Nur
Mosque in Batu Merah on Monday.

"A car, which was driven by a police officer who happens to be
Christian, hit another car. It was just a traffic accident caused
when the car's brakes gave way. But people then gathered in the
area and demanded the local military and police chiefs settle the
matter," Jekriel said.

Muslim activist Malik Selang from Al-Fatah Mosque said two
Muslims were injured in the accident, and accused the police
officer of hit-and-run.

"We were angry because security personnel could not settle the
matter. Both communities then attacked each other, but were
quickly dispersed," Malik told the Post.

He said the violence flared up again in Batu Merah and Mardika
at around 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

Muslims and Christians have accused security personnel of
favoritism in dealing with the clashes.

Earlier, a doctor at Al-Fatah Hospital, who spoke on condition
of anonymity, said the hospital received five corpses and
admitted more than 50 people with slash and bullet wounds.

Meanwhile Sonny, a staff member in the emergency ward of
Haulusi Hospital, said the hospital received at least nine
corpses and was treating some 32 people for bullet wounds.

A staff member at Protestant Maluku Church Hospital, Yanes
Lekransi, said at least 31 people with bullet wounds were
admitted to the hospital on Tuesday.

Ambon Police chief Lt. Col. Gufron, however, was quoted by
Antara news agency as saying 17 people were killed in the latest
violence.

He told a media conference that Haulusi Hospital received 10
corpses, Al-Fatah Hospital six corpses and Protestant Maluku
Church Hospital one corpse.

He also said that from July 23 to Aug. 9, at least 45 people
were killed in communal clashes in Ambon. Police have arrested 45
people suspected of involvement in the violence.

The independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of
Violence said last week 82 people were killed and four went
missing in Ambon between July 15 and Aug. 5.

Meanwhile, Capt. Sutarno, a staff member at the local military
information office, said at least 14 security personnel were
injured in the recent violence and were being treated at a
military hospital and Haulusi Hospital.

Police also said more than 30,000 people fled to nearby
mosques, churches and military barracks fearing further unrest.

One battalion of reinforcement troops arrived in Ambon late
last month to quell the ongoing violence between Muslims and
Christians.

Earlier, four battalions of troops, or some 2,600 men, and
three companies from the National Police's elite Mobile Brigade
were deployed to the province. (byg/48)