Fresh violence in Ambon

AMBON, Maluku: After weeks of calm, violence erupted here as gunmen shot dead a local resident in Suli village, Salahutu district in Ambon on Saturday at around 12 p.m. local time, an official said on Sunday.

The victim, 50-year-old Dace Pattiasina, died en route to Halong Naval Hospital, some eight kilometers away from Suli village.

"Dace died due to severe bleeding as the bullet hit his neck. He was about to go to a field to pick some durian fruit," a witness and village official Yan Hatumete said.

Personnel from Infantry Battalion 144/Sriwijaya combed the area upon hearing the shots to search for the assailants but to no avail.

Meanwhile, Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa said on Saturday that consolidation between military and police personnel in Maluku has started to work well following several conflicts between the two forces.

"I have reported the situation in the Malukus to the TNI chief of general affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago during a recent visit to Jakarta," Made Yasa said during a visit to the 733/Masariku Airborne headquarters on Jl. Slamet Riyadi in downtown Ambon.

"The probe into the Wijaya II shooting incident in Batu Merah involving 14 police and military officers will proceed," he added. (edt/49)