Five people killed in fresh sectarian violence in Maluku

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Fears of a new cycle of sectarian conflict mounted in Maluku islands on Friday following the latest outbreak of violence that killed at least five people and injured dozens others.

Four people died as security personnel opened fire on a group of attackers trying to enter Akidri village in Jailolo district on Halmahera island, North Maluku, in early hours on Friday.

Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela confirmed the incident later on Friday, saying that mobs had previously burned down at least 10 houses and a church.

Similar frays erupted a day earlier on Buru island about 11 hours by speedboat west of Ambon. A mob burned houses and a church in Siopot and Waemulang villages in Buru regency and one person was killed in the unrest that began around 7 a.m. local time on Thursday.

Tamaela said that order had been restored in the two troubled areas.

"Security forces will not compromise with any party attempting to instigate riots. So do not blame us if there are casualties resulting from our actions," Tamaela said.

Meanwhile, chief of Yogyakarta-based Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah jihad force Jafar Umar Thalib denied his group's involvement in the recent conflict in Maluku.

"The victims were locals and our group has no formal alliance with Laskar Jihad in Maluku led by Abu Bakar Wahid Al Banjari of Ternate," Jafar told media on Friday.

However, Jafar admitted that 149 volunteers from his group left for Maluku on April 26. He said they did not take weapons but "necessary goods for fellow Laskar Jihad members".

About 25 members of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah in Padang, West Sumatra, will also leave for Maluku soon, group leader Amri Mansyur said on Friday.

Back in Ambon, Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina asserted on Friday that his administration rejected the arrival of Laskar Jihad members from other provinces, if they intend to wage a war.

Tamaela admitted, however, it was hard to detect the influx of the Laskar Jihad volunteers as many of them were probably entering the islands by disguising themselves as ordinary merchants or passengers.

"They might have come with executive class vessels and unarmed. But we suspect they joined their fellow members here and later assembled the guns and weapons," Tamaela said. (49/44/28/edt)