Fresh violence in Ambon

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)