Laskar Jihad warned over its aggressive activities

Laskar Jihad warned over its aggressive activities

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Chief of the Pattimura Military Command
overseeing Maluku Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela warned members of Laskar
Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah (Jihad Force) on Monday to cease
all aggressive activity or face the wrath of the military.

"Do not die in vain. We don't need another conflict, so the
Laskar Jihad better not try to instigate more riots. That goes
also for other camps," he said.

"I have ordered all field commanders to take firm action ...
Whoever starts a fight, hit them," Tamaela told journalists.

Tamaela claimed the situation in the city was now under
control following a six-day fray which began last Tuesday and
claimed at least 40 lives.

"Some members of Laskar Jihad, however, were still seen
grouping at street corners," he added.

Reports vary on the number of Laskar Jihad here, from about
1,200 to 2,200 people.

As of Monday evening, sounds of explosions were still heard
from disputed Batu Merah, Mardika district, as security forces
conducted patrols.

Two hundred soldiers from Sriwijaya's 141th Infantry
Battalion, who arrived in the city on Sunday, were deployed on
Monday to support the Air Force's Paskhas elite unit guarding
Pattimura Airport as well as the neighboring disputed villages of
Laha, Hattu and Tawiri.

A Maluku administration official who asked for anonymity said
that many Laskar Jihad volunteers were now seeking refuge and
asking to be deported from Ambon.

"They felt deceived by their commanders as they were told
earlier only to conduct humanitarian activities here. It turns
out that they were ordered to join the battle and many have
sought help to go home. Three of them have personally asked for
my help to leave Ambon," he said.

Earlier, at about noon, some 100 Ahuru villagers, mostly
housewives, staged a protest in front of the governor's office
demanding the Laskar Jihad be banished from Ambon.

"We want the governor to arrange their departure immediately,"
An Haulussy, the group's coordinator, said after meeting with
Governor Saleh Latuconsina.

"They burned our houses and churches," Haulussy said, adding
that Tamaela must also withdraw the Army Strategic Reserves
Command's (Kostrad) 303rd battalion from Maluku as there was
strong evidence to implicate their involvement in an arson attack
on houses in Ahuru.

Discredit

Meanwhile, in Yogyakarta, Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal
Jama'ah spokesman Ayip Syafruddin told The Jakarta Post and
Bernas daily on Monday that there was a systematic campaign to
discredit the force.

"There have been provocative actions against Laskar Jihad and
Muslims in general to kick Laskar Jihad members out of Ambon,"
Ayip said.

"Members of Laskar Jihad, and Muslims in general, were
provoked and that's how the clash erupted."

Asked if Laskar Jihad was directly responsible for the fatal
clashes, Ayip replied: "The involvement of Laskar Jihad was a
reflection of self-defense. If you're going to be killed, will
you do nothing?"

He reiterated that the Laskar Jihad members were committed to
their humanitarian and preaching activities in Ambon.

He added that there were now 2,500 Laskar Jihad members in
Maluku. "We'll send 500 more to make the number 3,000 by the end
of this month."

Unconfirmed reports from Ambon say that almost 100 members of
Laskar Jihad have been killed in the conflict. (49/44/edt/sur)