Communal violence hits Kumai in C. Kalimantan
JAKARTA (JP): At least four people were killed in communal clashes in Kumai district, about 10 kilometers southeast of Pangkalan Bun in Central Kalimantan on Thursday, arousing fears that violence might be spreading across the country.
Antara quoted local officials as saying that the conflict involved indigenous Malays and migrant settlers from Madura. They said fighting broke out in the early hours of Thursday, having been triggered by the death of a native from Kumai Hulu village in Kotawaringin Barat regency in a Molotov cocktail blast.
The news agency said the four people had been killed in violence since late Wednesday evening. However, only one death was confirmed by Kotawaringin spokesman Ajema Abdullah.
"There have been no details on the deaths, except for an old man who was killed in a Molotov cocktail explosion," Ajema said.
As of late Thursday, Kumai remained tense but the violence had subsided and the security situation was under control, he said.
The area has seen a series of violent incidents between the indigenous ethnic community and the Madurese migrant community over the past couple of years.
The Madurese, a hardworking but sometimes considered aggressive ethnic group, were the target of violent attacks in Sambas in the neighboring province of West Kalimantan in 1997. Hundreds were killed in months of violence and tens of thousands of the migrants were displaced.
Ambon
In Ambon, the capital of Maluku, Governor Saleh Latuconsina expressed his disappointment on Thursday over the continuing violence in spite of the imposition of a civil emergency status.
"I would rather be replaced at once rather than watch so many lives sacrificed. The security forces have failed to restore order," he said at his office after monitoring the latest situation in the province.
Early on Thursday morning hundreds of heavily armed rioters raided and destroyed the predominantly-Christian village of Waai, 28 kilometers south of Ambon. During the predawn attack, the village was struck by mortars, bombs and grenades.
At least four people were reportedly killed in the attack, which came two days after arsonists struck three villages and the 30-hectare Pattimura University.
Waai lies between two Muslim villages of Tulehu and Liang. Terrified locals sought safety in the neighboring villages of Paso and Wayari, which are 16 kilometers away. Many others ran into the jungle.
Latuconsina said he had asked Paula Renyaan, the deputy governor for people's welfare, to present a report of the latest situation in Ambon to President Abdurrahman Wahid in Jakarta.
In response to the governor's complaint, Pattimura Military chief Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa said that he had done his best. "I thought they would have not had the courage to burn Pattimura University," he said in his office.
Officers on the navy battle ship KRI Multatuli have arrested the leader of an armed Muslim group and some 250 of his men onboard the KM Obi Star.
Commander Agus Subagyo identified on Wednesday the captured man as Rusdin Damunwayang, one of the Laskar Jihad chiefs in Maluku. It is alleged he led attacks on Christians in North Maluku on June 29.
Rusdin, a graduate in economics from Pattimura University, first claimed himself as a member of the Association of Muslim Students (HMI) before the officers seized provocative pamphlets ordering the killing of any parties against Laskar Jihad.
A police officer traveling with the armed Muslims was also detained. Six sacks of Jihad uniforms were also found on the boat in a separate raid on the waters off Maluku, Agus said.
In Bandung, Minister of Religious Affairs Tolchah Hasan said after the opening of the 12th congress of the Nahdlatul Ulama women's organization Fathayat on Thursday that he had approached Laskar Jihad leaders to ask them to stop sending personnel to the province.
"If everyone wants peace to return in Maluku, do not send anymore men as it certainly does not solve the problem," he said. (49/25/edt)