Maluku riots spread, 265 die in Halmahera

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)