Maluku conflict continues

Maluku conflict continues

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Communal violence on Buru Island in riot-
torn Maluku spread to Buru Utara Timur district on Thursday
following deadly clashes in the neighboring district of Buru
Utara Barat.

Official data released by the Maluku Police revealed that at
least 22 people were killed and five severely injured, while 173
houses and a place of worship were set ablaze by a mob.

Unconfirmed sources, however, stated that at least 43 people
died and 39 others were wounded in the fray.

The remote island, formerly home to political prisoners linked
to the 1965 Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) coup attempt,
remained tense on Thursday due to sporadic conflicts.

Maluku Police spokesman Maj. Philipus Jackriel, said dozens of
the National Police's Mobile Brigade, Army Strategic Reserves
Command (Kostrad), and Pattimura Military Command personnel had
been deployed to restore order.

Jackriel said the unrest was sparked by a fight between two
youths, a resident of Wainabe village in Buru Utara Barat and a
Pelauw villager on Haruku island on Wednesday about 1 p.m.

The Pelauw youth, who worked at a timber firm in Wanibe,
punched the local resident, Jackriel said.

The identity of the two youths is unknown.

"But shortly after the fight, thousands of people from several
villages in Buru Utara Barat attacked the villages of Safana Jaya
and Waikosek and a transmigrant settlement area," Jackriel said.

Dozens of residents have fled their violence-ridden homeland.
Some of them were seen being evacuated to the provincial capital
of Ambon by navy ships. Telecommunication systems did not work
due to the violence.

Governor Saleh Latuconsina asserted on Thursday that the
dispute was a reprisal waged by some Ambon residents who had been
involved in the prolonged riots in the town.

"They moved to Buru island and later instigated the riot,"
Saleh told media, adding that he had difficulties monitoring the
situation due to the telecommunication problems.

In Jakarta, National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi told the
media that a peace agreement between conflicting Muslim and
Christian groups had been reached. He ruled out the possibility
of sending reinforcement troops to Maluku.

"There are just too many islands. We cannot keep sending
reinforcements to safeguard each island, otherwise we'll run out
of personnel," Roesmanhadi said on Thursday. (48/ylt/edt)