Four peaople die in clashes in Ambon and Saparua

AMBON, Maluku (JP): At least four people were killed and six injured in clashes in Saparua, Central Maluku, and Ambon on Wednesday.

In intervillage violence in Ambon, the head of the Wailawa hamlet in Tawiri village, G. Nola, was killed.

A staff member at Dr. Haulusi Hospital said John Kastanya, 50, also died in the violence.

Among the injured was John's son Felix Kastanya, 21.

"(John) was cut down when he tried to lift his father," a staff member, quoting the victim, said. Also injured in the clash were Paulus Mali, 25, Edmond Purmiasa, 24, and Melvin Lolapua, 19.

Ambon police spokesman Maj. Jekriel Philip told The Jakarta Post that two others died in Ambon -- Abdul Gani Ely and D. Latumahina.

Jekriel said as of late Wednesday he had no details of victims on the clash in Saparua.

Antara reported Abdul Rizal Rusdi, 20, was severely wounded in the violence, while M. Saleh Kolaboga, 26, A. Djuhari, 20, and Metly, 35, suffered slight injuries.

It was not clear whether they were injured in Ambon or Saparua.

Witnesses in Ambon said the cause of the clash between the villages of Tawiri and Laha near Pattimura Airport was unclear, but the unrest was believed to be linked to continued violence between Muslims and Christians.

There was little activity in Ambon on Wednesday, with most people choosing to remain at home.

Governor Saleh Latuconsina has asked PT Angkasa Pura I in Jakarta, the firm which manages Pattimura Airport, to reopen the airport, which has been closed for weeks due to violence in the province.

Ambon Police chief Lt. Col. Ghufron said residents in both Saparua and Ambon attacked each other with sharp weapons, homemade bombs and rocks.

"Apart from the dead, two others were severely injured and four were slightly wounded," he said as quoted by Antara.

Ghufron said no arrests had been made. The intervillage brawl in Ambon, which began at 5 a.m., was eventually contained by security personnel, he said.

The news agency quoted chief of police operations in Ambon and Lease Island Capt. M.J. Yohanis as saying that since July 24, 1,132 civilians had died, 312 were severely wounded and 146 sustained slight injuries in violence in the province.

He also said 765 homes, 195 shops and shop-houses, 19 four- wheel vehicles, two motorcycles and 57 pedicabs had been set on fire during this time.

The renewed unrest which flared last month also damaged one bank, one movie house, six government offices and eight privately owned buildings, he said. Two schools, three hotels, a warehouse and seven places of worship were also damaged, Yohanis said.

Police have so far questioned 77 people and named 48 people suspects in the violence. Seventeen of the suspects have been released, he said.

Yohanis also said police had confiscated 276 homemade weapons, including bombs, bows and arrows, knives, spears and machetes.

Antara on Wednesday also quoted the governor saying that the unrest in the province since January had become "increasingly complicated," blaming various political, economic and social interests.

Tens of thousands of residents fleeing carnage and continuing sporadic violence in their villages to Ambon and other provinces have not returned.

"Various interests have become jumbled in the unrest, preventing a peaceful solution to the problem," Governor Saleh said.

He noted critics had said that the failure of seeking solutions lay in the fact that government-sponsored peace pacts only involved the community's elite while fighting involved the lower rungs of the society.

"I don't understand, which are the lowest level?" Saleh said.

"We're trying to seek those who can appease mass emotions apart from community and religious leaders."

Even religious leaders are now no longer sure whether their followers are still listening to them, he added.

Saleh said one alternative to curb prolonged unrest was to check identity cards of passengers at the airport or ports.

Those with identity cards outside Ambon would be escorted to their destinations by security personnel, he said, and their identity cards would be replace by notices.

Provocateurs from outside Maluku have been among those blamed for the violence.

"They can take their IDs when they leave Ambon," the governor said. "We will continue this measure to prevent unrest from being be prolonged by outsiders," he added. (48/anr)