Maluku mayhem continues

Maluku mayhem continues

AMBON, Maluku (JP): A clash between two villages on Lease
Island in the Saparua district of Central Maluku broke out Friday
morning resulting in the destruction of some 160 homes.

Witnesses claimed that as many as five people may have died
and seven others injured in the clash, however no official
confirmation could be obtained.

Rev. P.G. Manopo, secretary at the Klasis Protestant Church on
Lease Island, said the clash occurred between residents of Noloth
and Iha villages.

He claimed the violence, which seemed to have been provoked
due to religious reasons, was probably triggered by a previous
unresolved clash in neighboring Siri Sori village on Wednesday.

"What makes it so tragic is that the attack broke out just 10
minutes after visiting Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani
and his entourage left the village," Manopo added.

Firman Gani had arrived earlier Friday morning to monitor the
security condition in several villages in the area which had been
the scene of several clashes.

Lease Island is located east of Ambon Island.

Separately, a staff at the local civil emergency post in Ambon
John Tomasowa, confirmed the incident and said that five had
died.

He said the sporadic but unrelenting violence in the province
has paralyzed riot-torn Ambon city which had earlier shown signs
of improvement. (49/lup)