Gunfight among security personnel erupts in Ambon

AMBON, Maluku (JP): A gunfight between disputed security personnel took place on Thursday in two villages, Lateri and Passo in Teluk Ambon Baguala district some 12 kilometers east of Ambon, forcing hundreds of residents to flee the area, an official said.

"It's true that there was a gunfight between police and Marine troops today. But, the situation is already under control now," John Tomasoa, spokesman for the civil emergency administration, told The Jakarta Post by phone.

Witnesses said the exchange of fire between members of the navy Marines and police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) broke out around 11:30 a.m. local time on Thursday and continued into the afternoon.

"The troops told residents to stay in their houses to avoid possible casualties.. but many others opted to flee to safer ground," a local journalist said.

There was no clear explanation about the cause of the incident but unconfirmed reports stated that a number of soldiers and policemen were injured in the fray.

Residents said that the incident broke out soon after a dispute between a policeman and a group of Marine soldiers at Halong Naval Base, but no official confirmation has been issued.

It is reported that a plainclothes Brimob officer was asked to remove his earrings when entering the naval base, but he refused to do so. The police officer ended up being mobbed by Marine troops guarding the base and the incident quickly spread into a fray between the two units.

Halong Naval Base is also home to approximately 2,000 Christian and Muslim refugees.

Marine troops were seen moving from their base in Halong Naval Base with two Amphibious vehicles to Passo, about five kilometers away from Halong.

On the way to Passo, the convoy was intercepted by the Water Police Unit in Lateri village, but around 4 p.m. local time members of the Marines reportedly breached Lateri village.

Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani, Pattimura Military chief of staff Col. Syarifuddin Sumah and Ambon Naval Base commander Lt. Col. Pattorani were reportedly still at the scene of the incident late on Thursday afternoon.

Tight security was also imposed in Halong Naval Hospital and journalists were banned from entering the site.

In another development, chairman of the Maluku Protestant Church Synod Rev. Sammy Titaley said on Thursday that TNI/Polri troops' existence in Maluku is still much needed.

"The security forces in the Malukus cannot be pulled out yet due to the huge number of conflict prone areas in the islands," Sammy said.

He said that he would therefore send letters to the TNI Commander and the National Police chief and will meet Pattimura Military Command and the Maluku Police chief on the matter.

"We think that the troops deployment in Maluku is geographically misinterpreted.

"It seems that there are an abundant number of troops but actually the area of conflict is much larger. The troops are mostly concentrated on Ambon island, but not on other islands," he said.

"There are villages that are tightly guarded whilst there are other villages which have fewer security troops," he added, while citing that during the Hatualang incident in Piru district, Seram island of Central Maluku last week, the village was only guarded by a group of eight soldiers while the attackers numbered hundreds.

Meanwhile, Maluku Provincial Council Speaker Etty Sahuburua called for the prosecution of those responsible for the alleged "forceful" action behind the conversion of 648 Christians to Islam in Kesui district, East Seram island, Central Maluku, last year.

"We're glad that the 648 people who had been forced to convert their religion to Islam have been evacuated from Kesui, but we also want to get a legal process underway towards those responsible for this coercive action," Etty said. (49/edt)