Death toll increases to 52 in Maluku communal rioting

JAKARTA (JP): Fears of renewed violence hang over the Maluku capital of Ambon as the estimated death toll from religious clashes there has risen to 52. Among the latest victims were five villagers who were stabbed and burned by a mob from another village only hours after Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto ended his short visit to the region.

In addition to a curfew slapped on Ambon, the military had issued a shoot-on-the-spot order against anyone resisting the authorities' attempt to restore security.

The casualty figures varied. On Friday, according to local authorities, there were 45 recorded deaths. The Suara Pembaruan newspaper reported there were 37 deaths.

On Saturday afternoon, the private TV station SCTV in its 6 p.m. news quoted Maluku Police chief Col. Karyono as saying the three-day rioting that began Tuesday, had claimed 47 lives, including six who died in the village of Batubalang on Thursday.

Karyono did not explain about the latest five deaths.

A police officer at the Ambon Police headquarters, Sgt. Prasetyo, however, confirmed the killing of the five, which he said took place at about 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

He said the mob ambushed the truck that was carrying the victims from Mangga Dua village to Ambon, "burned the vehicle and stabbed the five."

"They threw their bodies into a gorge, poured gasoline over them and then burned them," Prasetyo told The Jakarta Post by phone.

Prasetyo did not say whether there were other passengers, whether any attackers have been arrested, or give details about the murders.

The AFP quoted a local journalist as saying the brutal murder of the five took place only 300 meters away from Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina's residence in Ambon.

Wiranto visited Ambon on Friday and was back in Jakarta early Saturday. He donated Rp 500 million in cash and food supplies to the local government. He also promised to send a helicopter to help security personnel in restoring security in the province.

"Operate this helicopter to capture the traitors. Capture the masterminds of the riots that have damaged the inter-religious harmony here and bring them to court," Gen. Wiranto said as quoted by Antara.

Wiranto assured residents there that his troops had acted firmly but humanely. He denied that around 5,000 servicemen deployed there had failed to act fairly to Christians and Muslims, as both sides have separately complained.

"It is wrong to conclude that ABRI is siding with certain groups in handling the rioting in Ambon," Wiranto said after the visit.

The head of the Trikora Military Command, Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring, who oversees Maluku and Irian Jaya, ordered his troops on Saturday to shoot anyone who resists the military operation to restore peace and order there.

Dozens of expatriates in Ambon have been evacuated while residents of villages involved in the violence took refuge in churches, mosques and military installations.

Police estimated the number of people fleeing their homes had reached 20,000. The Justice Party, which has established a command post to help refugees, put the figure at 15,000.

Some 9,000 Muslims were being sheltered at the Al Fatah Mosque in downtown Ambon, while 3,000 Christians were taking refuge at Silo Church.

Some Ambon residents said Sunday, when Christians perform their religious services, will serve as an important test of whether the anger and animosity between them and the Muslim community had subsided or not.

"The situation is slowly returning to normal. The visit of General Wiranto has had a psychological impact on people. But we must remain alert," Baptist Church priest Hendrik Totmaran told the Post.

"Public transportation is still paralyzed, but we feel more secure now compared to a few days ago," said a night guard at a local newspaper office in Ambon.

With a population of 2.08 million, Maluku province comprises 1,027 islands and 70 percent of its territory is covered by sea. Some of the islands are in the Pacific Ocean.

According to the 1997 official statistics, 59.01 percent of its population are Muslims, Protestants 35.29 percent, while Catholics number 5.19 percent.

Maluku is one of a few provinces, including Aceh, Irian Jaya and East Timor, whose history is marked with separatist movements.

According to the official Indonesian National History book, rebel Robert Steven Soumokil once established the South Maluku Republik (RMS). He intended to declare a separate state from Indonesia in the 1950s.

After the 1970s, the group was little heard of. Most of its elderly leaders live in the Netherlands.

On Thursday, according to local residents, some RMS flags were hoisted in Ambon.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) urged Christians in the province to pray for peace and stop resorting to violence.

The Justice Party said on Friday 12 mosques and three churches were burned during the rioting. It complained that the military had not done enough to restore security there.

"Need there be more victims before the military takes firm action?" the party asked in a statement. (prb/29)