Death toll rises in Saparua clashes
JAKARTA (JP): Security authorities have gradually restored order on Saparua Island in Maluku following three days of communal clashes which claimed 11 lives.
Antara reported on Sunday dozens were also injured in the outbreak, the latest to rock the archipelagic province since the first religious-related conflict exploded in mid-January.
Authorities were still investigating what triggered the most recent clashes which began on Oct. 21, but they speculated that it originated from a long feud between two villages.
Maluku Military chief Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela said people of Sirisori Islam and Sirisori Amalatu villages were fighting over the right to cut trees in the area.
"It looks like the clashes originated over this row," Tamaela told Antara.
Hundreds of reinforcement troops made up of personnel from the provincial military command and the Marines have been deployed to the island, about three hours by boat from the province's capital Ambon.
The agency said the death toll rose to 11 after another of the injured died in state-run Saparua Hospital.
Ferdinand Tupamahu died of gunshot wounds to his chest.
Another 20 were treated at the sole hospital on the island.
Halim Bugis, a Saparua resident, told The Jakarta Post by phone from Ambon on Saturday night that the island was believed to be under control although tension remained high.
"Dozens of security personnel from Ambon are patrolling the area and they have closed all the gateways to the island," Halim said, citing reports from relatives and friends.
He said no more shots were heard and streets and public places were deserted as most residents chose to stay indoors.
"We don't know what to do. The armed attackers can unexpectedly throng the streets without warning. But now, if they try anything, they will be confronted by troops," said Halim, who left the island a day after the first clash erupted on Thursday.
He said he could not return to the island just yet.
"To reach Sirisori Islam village, I have to pass at least three Christian villages," he said.
Sirisori Islam is one among three Muslim villages, while 15 other villages on Saparua are predominantly Christian communities.
"The Muslim village was attacked by people from Christian villages. We were outnumbered and we only survived because security personnel arrived on time," he said.
Priest Liang from Silo Church said in Ambon that communications with Saparua had been difficult to ascertain the situation and cause of the clashes. The death toll could be higher than 11, he said.
He lamented that the clashes were triggered by trivial matters and that they degenerated into communal conflicts.
"The clashes in Ambon were also caused by trivial matters, but they were fanned by some people. The same thing is now happening to Saparua," Liang told the Post. (emf)