Bullets disappear from Ambon warehouse

AMBON, Maluku (JP): The head of the provincial office of the Ministry of Communications has acknowledged that 190 bullets are missing from its coast guard warehouse in the city's port.

Capt. Suwandi's comments on Monday were in response to the report of one of his subordinates that 2,000 bullets and at least 10 firearms were missing from the warehouse at Yos Sudarso Port.

The employee who requested anonymity reported to his superiors on July 30 that he found the door of a cupboard in the warehouse "opened by force".

"The firearms have been returned," Suwandi said.

He added that there were more than 1,000 bullets, not 2,000 bullets, and 23 firearms stored at the facility.

Terming the loss of the bullets "mysterious", Suwandi vowed to conduct an investigation.

"They could not have been taken by outsiders."

He believed the weapons were borrowed by members because office policy only permits coast guards' authorized access to the weapons with the knowledge of their superiors.

Police chief Col. Bugis M. Saman also told reporters that the firearms were borrowed by members, who are civilians, and that they had been returned.

Civilians have been spotted carrying firearms since communal violence first erupted in January. After a late July riot in which 31 people died, there have been reports of civilians bearing both homemade weapons and firearms resembling military issued arms.

Shots could still be heard on Monday in downtown Ambon, which residents said were either from civilians or security personnel.

Authorities are conducting raids on firearms. Arrests so far have focused on people carrying homemade weapons, with the police trying to determine how they obtained real bullets.

Refugees, mainly Muslim residents, are still occupying the grounds of the port. Ships have decided to dock at the naval base as a safety measure.

Also on Monday, the management of Hailussy General Hospital denied reports of an "exodus" of its specialists. Executive director H. Tanamal said 25 specialists in various fields were still at the hospital.

Meanwhile, 18 lawyers of church groups have asked for an investigation team to look into atrocities in Ambon.

In a statement signed by coordinator Semmy Waileruny and addressed to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and U.S. president Bill Clinton, the lawyers reported "systematic" killings, torture and arson directed at Christian groups, including their homes and businesses.

They blamed "separatists" who were "engineered" by "individuals of the civilian and military authorities," who met fierce resistance from the rest of the community, including "nationalist Muslims."

Muslims also have demanded independent investigations be carried out into atrocities against them.

In Jakarta, Minister of Health Farid A. Moeloek said medical supplies were still enough for one year, Antara reported.

Additional medical staff from the Indonesian Military assisted the thousands of refugees, he said.

The local administration should immediately provide clean water and sanitation to the refugees, he added.

The news agency also reported that residents were complaining of the increase in the price of rice provided from the provincial branch of the state logistics agency for the poor.

Rice from Japan was sold at Rp 2,600 per kilogram, a hike from Rp 2,500 per kilogram, and rice from Thailand was Rp 3,200 per kilogram from Rp 2,450 per kilogram.

Tony, a vendor at one of the small sidewalk markets which have appeared since the troubles began, attributed the price rise to different quality of the rice.

The head of the agency, Arif Mandu, said vendors only took profits of Rp 125 to Rp 150 per kilogram. Rice is distributed to four agencies to make it easier for residents to access the rice, he said.

From the state agency, rice from Thailand was Rp 2,900 per kilogram and that from Japan was Rp 2,450 per kilogram, he said.

He said supplies were enough for another five months. (48/anr)