Maluku riots spread, 265 die in Halmahera

JAKARTA (JP): At least 265 people have been killed in clashes between Christians and Muslims on Halmahera island in North Maluku over the last three days.

The number of casualties brought the death toll in sporadic communal clashes across the spice islands of Maluku to nearly 330 since the new wave of violence broke out on Sunday, just after a peaceful Christmas.

In its press release, the Indonesian Military (TNI) information service said about 360 buildings, including mosques, churches, were burned down, while nearly 12,000 people sought refuge at the nearest military installations following the violence that rocked the district of Tobelo.

The TNI quoted chief of Tobelo military Capt. Made Tarsi as saying that the conflict broke out at about 9 p.m. on Monday. It affected Blanghalu, Upa, Wari, and Garua villages.

Halmahera's Muslim leader Rustam Bayan told The Jakarta Post the conflict continued in Soatobaru village, some eight kilometers west of Tobelo, on Thursday morning, killing one man and injuring 18 others.

The violence followed similar clashes in Ambon, the capital of Maluku, where at least 63 people were killed and more than 100 were injured this week.

Fighting in Ambon began to abate on Thursday, following the transfer of security authority from the police to the local military command beginning on Wednesday.

The military commander, Brig. Gen. Max Tamaella, announced a curfew beginning on Thursday. It restricts people from leaving their homes from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

"In accordance with the Muslim fasting month, residents may leave their homes only for emergency reasons, without having to cross their neighborhood borders," Tamaela said.

He said the security authorities also prohibited any gathering of people which involved more than 10, without acceptable purposes. Gatherings as part of religious practices were exempted, according to Tamaela.

"We will disband any illegal meetings and take harsh measures against any resistance to the law," he said.

Rustam said the fighting in Tobelo pitted supporters of the Sultan of Ternate's family against their opponents on the neighboring island of Tidore. He added that the clashes had claimed the lives of some 90 supporters of the royal family.

Unrest was also reported on Haruku island, west of Ambon, where eight people have been killed in the violence since Wednesday afternoon, the daily Suara Pembaruan reported on Thursday.

The riots in Tobelo ceased when dozens of military troops arrived to restore order there, Rustam said. But tension remained high, with security personnel standing on alert across the town. An electricity blackout was applied last night in areas prone to brawls.

A member of the Ternate Police, Second Sgt. Markus Duan told the Post that the police were unable to stop the bloodshed, as they would be accused of taking sides with one of the embattling groups.

"We fired warning shots only if the warring groups turned savage," he said, referring to some fighters who beheaded their captured foe.

Markus said the clashes virtually ended when the two warring camps agreed a truce on Wednesday afternoon at the palace of the Sultan of Ternate.

A sociologist who hails from Ternate, Ahmad Tamrin Tomagola, suspected the latest violence in his homeland was sparked by a power struggle as the territory was bracing for local elections in June.

"Somebody wants to become the governor of the newly created province and used a group of people who have long suffered from oppression to reach his goal," Tamrin said, denying speculations that the conflict on Halmahera was motivated by religious issues.

He warned that the fighting could be repeated in 10 or 20 years if the new local government of North Maluku failed to promote the fair distribution of power and wealth.

He said he would fly to Ternate on Sunday to mediate reconciliation efforts there.

Meanwhile, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung suggested that the government begin to separate the Muslim community from Christians in order to prevent further sectarian conflicts in Maluku.

He also agreed to the use of strict measures to halt the clashes, including a shoot-on-sight policy for rioters. (emf/jun/amd)