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)