Fresh Maluku clashes claims four lives

Fresh Maluku clashes claims four lives

AMBON, Maluku (JP): At least four people were killed in the
latest sectarian violence to rock Maluku on Sunday, just two days
before the arrival of Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

A military officer given the task of guarding the Vice
President, Lt. Col. Henky Naulan, was injured following the blast
of a homemade bomb near Binaya during the unrest. He is receiving
medial treatment at the local state hospital.

The Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela
confirmed the report, but said order in Masohi on Seram island,
some 80 kilometers east of here, had been gradually restored as
of Sunday evening.

"There was an incident when I happened to be in Masohi for a
funeral of a relative and while making preparations for the Vice
President's visit," Tamaela said.

He added that he had ordered local military personnel to help
police hunt for the alleged mastermind of the communal clash, the
first since the 15-month conflict ended in March.

Head of Soahoku subdistrict Chris Tamaela identified one of
the fatalities as Lodewijk Pattiwael, 28, who was shot in the
head.

Witnesses said the conflict began soon after an Easter mass at
Bethesda Church. A rival group burned two houses on Jl. H.
Soulissa at 3 p.m. Hundreds of people came out of the church and
went to the site of the arson, which is just one kilometer away.

Meanwhile in the North Maluku capital of Ternate, two
assembled bombs exploded as thousands of Muslims grouped in
Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) staged a rally to call for a jihad.

A group member identified as Suaib Muhiddin was killed and at
least seven others were injured, Antara reported.

The first blast occurred at Ngara Lamo soccer field, killing
Suaib, a refugee from the riot-torn subdistrict of Jailolo.

The second bomb exploded nearby as participants of the mass
gathering were entering the North Maluku legislative council's
compound. No casualties, however, were reported in the last
blast.

A source at the Ternate General Hospital said only four people
suffered minor injuries and were allowed to return home, while
three others were receiving intensive medical treatment.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts. However,
some witnesses said the bombs had been carried by people in the
crowd and went off accidentally.

Abubakar Wahid, chief of the FPI's Jihad Force in North
Maluku, said the gathering was held to unite Moslems in a common
vision and mission. (49/edt)