Eleven killed in Tual as Maluku clashes resume

JAKARTA (JP): Religious clashes in the Southeast Maluku town of Tual have claimed at least 11 lives and injured 50, police and hospital sources said Friday.

Head of the Tual General Hospital, Nona Notanubun, told Antara that a priest, Butje Hehanussa, and his two sons, Hensen Hehanussa and Dani, were killed as a result of machete attacks on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Sherby Bugis, Gani Tamher and Tete Renhoran died from arrow wounds, Donatustelio Warubun from spear wounds and Jacob Beay from bullet wounds, the news agency said.

It also said at least one person, Harold Joice Noya, was still missing, after the conflict -- the latest to rock the province after over a week of calm -- erupted on Wednesday.

The agency on Friday, quoting sources at Southeast Maluku police and Tual hospital, reported 11 had died in the two-day clash.

Second Lt. Ferry Latue told The Jakarta Post by phone from the police command post in Tual, some 540 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital of Ambon, that violence continued at dawn in the Christian area of Kampung Baru on Thursday.

"The clashes carried on sporadically and the situation is only returning to calm this afternoon," Ferry said, adding that about 50 people were injured.

A local government official, who requested anonymity, said both Muslims and Christians started the renewed violence on Jl. Karel Sasuit Tubun early Thursday.

"Muslims and Christians armed with machetes, arrows and Molotov cocktails were attacking each other. Security personnel then fired warning shots to disperse (them) ... then opened fire on the crowd," he said.

He claimed many people sustained injuries from bullet wounds.

"Security personnel chased the crowd down alleys and into residents' houses."

Scores of residents fled their homes to nearby military facilities on Thursday, he said.

Meanwhile observance of Good Friday passed peacefully in Ambon and other areas. Some worshipers were seen in tears while security personnel continued to monitor the situation.

But in Tual, Antara reported only a few attended mass as most were still at the refugee center of the Air Force base in Langgur. There were also fears of additional violence.

The agency reported that at least 40 houses were set on fire on Wednesday and Thursday.

Residents told the news agency the clashes erupted before dawn on Wednesday when Christians from Taar village attacked a neighboring Muslim community in Wearhir village.

The reason for the outbreak of violence remained unclear, but locals said tensions were sparked after the discovery of a piece of graffiti defaming Islam in Wearhir on Sunday.

Residents blamed the violence on instigators who fled violence in Ambon earlier in the month.

Since mid-January, bloody clashes between Muslims and Christians in Ambon and several other islands in Maluku province have left almost 200 people dead and has caused wide-spread destruction.

Maluku Military chief Col. Karel Ralahalu, and Maluku Police chief Col. Bugis Saman remained in Tual on Thursday to calm residents.

Two members from the special military task force, Col. Nono Sampono and Col. Cornelis Patty, also visited the town.

Armed Forces (ABRI) chief Gen. Wiranto sent 19 locally-born officers to the province last month to quell weeks of violence between Muslims and Christians.

Antara reported that one company of troops was dispatched from Ambon on Wednesday to reinforce about 100 local security personnel.

Karel told the news agency on Wednesday that security personnel would take harsh measures against rioters in Tual.

"Anybody who tries to incite trouble will be crippled so that they will not worsen the situation."

He said security forces would try to separate the warring parties by marking boundaries between them. (byg)