Laskar Jihad members enter riot-torn Maluku
Laskar Jihad members enter riot-torn Maluku
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Up to 200 members of the Laskar Jihad
(Jihad Force) Muslim group have entered riot-torn Ambon from
Namlea Port on neighboring Buru island, police said.
Maluku Police spokesman Maj. Jakriel Phillip said on Monday
that police and intelligence officers have been deployed to
monitor the group's activities.
He said the group was closely watched by security personnel
aboard two patrol ships, but was not prevented from landing at
the Slamet Riyadi port. They went straight to the Al Fatah mosque
upon arrival.
According to Jakriel, the first group of 87 jihad members from
Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah reached Maluku on Friday night on board
KM Lambelu ship and stayed on Buru island before traveling to
Ambon on Danau Rana ferry the following day.
"Based on our latest information, the number of Laskar Jihad
members has reached between 112 and 200 people," Jakriel said.
Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah chief Jafar Umar Thalib
said earlier that a total of 3,000 members would leave for Ambon
through Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, the capital of East Java,
beginning on Sunday.
Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela warned the
Muslim volunteers against instigating further unrest in Ambon.
"We cannot stop them from coming (here). But if they act badly
in Ambon, we will take firm measures. I've urged them to refrain
from provoking trouble," Tamaela said.
He said security forces could not prevent the group's arrival
as they were unarmed and did not commit any crime.
"They say they want to help rehabilitate Ambon and that they
are here to do social work as well as propagate Islam. Let's see
if the group keeps its word," he said.
Sectarian conflict has rocked Maluku islands for 15 months
since breaking out in Ambon in January last year. A semblance of
peace has been seen in the last few months, although minor
clashes still occur.
In the latest incident on Monday, two residents from Laha
village were injured as a group of people from the neighboring
village of Tawiri fired homemade guns at them.
The villages are located near Pattimura Airport, about 40
kilometers east of here. (49/edt)