Death toll in Maluku riots rises to 105

JAKARTA (JP): Police announced the death toll in recent communal clashes in Ambon and other areas in Maluku province has risen to 105, Antara reported late Monday.

The news agency quoted Maluku Police spokesman Maj. Jekriel P.H. as saying that another 105 people were seriously injured while 162 others were slightly injured in the violence which began on Jan. 19 and lasted for several days.

It also reported that at least 2,960 houses were damaged or set on fire by angry mobs and at least 31 mosques and churches were damaged.

More than 1,000 shops and kiosks, 127 cars, 98 motorcycles, 423 pedicabs and a number of government buildings, schools, banks, markets and hotels were also damaged in the riots.

The agency reported that at least 130 people suspected of provoking the riots were undergoing intensive questioning by the police.

Maluku Police chief Col. Karyono was quoted as saying on Monday that charges against the alleged "provocateurs" would soon be completed and the cases would be referred to local prosecutors for trial.

Last week, the official death toll was 95. The revised figure follows recent reports that 10 people were killed in riots in Kairatu last week, Jekriel said. An earlier report said only one person died.

Kairatu is a small town on Seram island to the north of Ambon.

The string of violence began on Jan. 15 on Dobo island in southeast Maluku, where eight people were killed in riots.

Four days later, a riot broke out in Ambon and lasted nearly a week. At least 85 people were killed in the city area alone. Some 20,000 people are still seeking refuge at military bases, police stations, mosques and churches.

Another riot later occurred on Sanana island, northwest of Ambon, killing two.

The violence in Ambon was sparked by a fight between a Muslim migrant and a local Christian public transport driver on Jan. 19. It quickly degenerated into full-scale riots involving members of both communities.

Antara also reported on Tuesday that supplies of fresh fish were also diminishing in the markets.

The news agency reported price hikes due to a shortage of supply. For instance, cakalang fish, which used to be sold at Rp 3,000 each, are now sold for between Rp 6,000 to Rp 7,000.

Aceh

Meanwhile, tensions continued to shroud parts of the westernmost province of Aceh, where dozens of families in the village of Kandang near the North Aceh capital of Lhokseumawe fled over fears of fresh unrest in the area.

The military raided the village several times in the past two months hunting down alleged separatist leader Ahmad Kandang who was believed to be hiding in the village. At least 21 civilians have been killed in the operations.

"Since then, waves of villagers have left their homes to seek somewhere safer. They are still terrified by the raids and the deployment of security forces around the village," a local resident was quoted as saying by Antara.

The latest violence in the troubled province took place last week, when a group of unidentified men opened fire on thousands of people who were on their way home from a rally organized by the Free Aceh Movement in Idi Cut, East Aceh.

The Armed Forces (ABRI) said seven people were killed. A local human rights activist claimed the death toll had reached 21.

Meanwhile, in Banyumas, Central Java, two incidents of violence took place in Karanganyar and Wlahar Wangon villages on Monday night.

At least 20 houses were damaged in Karanganyar and a community hall was destroyed in Wlahar Wangon.

No casualties were reported from those riots.

Local officials said the unrest in Karanganyar was sparked by a fight between a local and another person from the nearby village of Adisara on Sunday. Hundreds of Adisara villagers then attacked Karanganyar on Monday.

The violence in Wlahar Wangon was sparked by a quarrel over the village chief election. (byg/45)