At least three killed in fresh attack in Maluku
AMBON, Maluku (JP): At least three people were killed in an attack on Kase village, Buru island, Maluku, on Sunday.
The head of the Maluku Protestant Church Synod, Rev. Broery Hendriks, said he received reports the village had been attacked at about 11 a.m.
"I reported this to the civil emergency leaders and they are handling it," he said.
There was no immediate word from civil emergency leaders on the incident.
Some of the attackers reportedly arrived in two boats from the eastern part of Kase village, while others came from the direction of Nanfae Hau village, about nine kilometers from Kase village.
The three fatalities were identified as Edison Lesnussa, 13, John Lesnussa, 53, and Frederick Lesnussa, 67, all of whom died of gunshot wounds.
Four people were reported after the attack. They were identified as Theresa Dias Leskona, 37, and her two children, 3- year-old Yongky Leskona and 5-year-old Alvin Leskona, and Yusuf Lesnussa, 23.
Residents of Kase village fled to the jungle and it is unclear if the four people reported missing are still in hiding.
Seven soldiers and policemen where manning the security post in Buru Selatan when the attack took place, Rev. Broery said.
"We fear there will be more attacks because it is obvious the attackers wanted to occupy the village," he said.
Navy
Meanwhile the Navy is continuing to increase sea patrols around North Maluku and Maluku despite the relative calm in these areas over the past month.
A Navy official said that last month at least two ships allegedly being used to smuggle weapons into North Maluku were seized.
Indonesian Navy Eastern Fleet Commander First Adm. Sutarto, speaking after a meeting at the Maluku governor's office on Saturday, said one ship seized off the Tahuna islands, North Maluku, was carrying four guns and dozens of sharp weapons.
The Navy also found another ship believed to have been involved in an attack on dozens of refugees off Ternate near the Halmahera islands.
"We found the ship floating in the waters off Halmahera but the crew had already fled," Sutarto said.
Two Philippine ships with a total of 40 crewmen were also seized last week for illegally fishing in the waters off North Maluku.
"The 40 crewmen were handed over to the authorities in North Maluku and after coordination with related parties the men were sent back home, but their ships remain impounded," he said.
Meanwhile, Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa warned there were parties attempting to spark a separatist movement in the Malukus, adding that there had been reports about plans to raise the flag of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) on April 25.
However, FKM has not been able to attract much support for its activities.
"We refuse to support separatism because it would mean building a state within an established state. Such a movement is obsolete," Amboina Diocese Bishop Mandagi said.
In North Maluku, Antara reported that 17 journalists from the print and broadcast media launched a boycott of North Maluku civil emergency chief Governor Muchyi Effendi.
The journalists are demanding an explanation of why Governor Muchyi banned two private television stations -- TPI and RCTI -- from covering the news in North Maluku.
Three other local newspapers have also been warned about their reports.
The ban was issued in civil emergency ruler decree No.02/PDS- 0906 on March 24. (edt/49)