Gunfight among security personnel erupts in Ambon

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)