Maluku violence spreads to Bacan

Maluku violence spreads to Bacan

TERNATE, North Maluku (JP): At least 250 people from several
villages have been evacuated to local military installations as
communal clashes hit Bacan island in South Halmahera, a military
officer said on Wednesday.

The unrest came during the visit of Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri to the territory, which has seen more than a year
of conflict between Muslim and Christian communities.

North Maluku military chief Lt. Col. Sutrisno said the initial
clash erupted early on Monday and continued until Tuesday.

"If possible we will send more military personnel to the
island," Sutrisno said. Only some 170 security personnel are
posted across the district.

Bacan is four hours away from Ternate by speedboat.

Sutrisno said the situation was now under control but troops
remained on alert for a possible renewal of the clashes. He added
that there were no reported fatalities in the violence.

But a spokesman for Bacan Sultan Syeikh Abubakar said at least
25 people were killed in the clashes, which affected the villages
of Labuha, East Bacan, Songa, Tawa, Tobajaya, Tutupa and
Tigaraja.

"We wait for our sultan, who is now in Jakarta, to approach
the conflicting groups for peace talks," he said.

He described the situation as tense, saying the capital of the
district was deserted after people fled their homes for fear of
further violence.

In Ambon, foreign envoys, representatives of the United
Nations Development Fund and Minister of Settlement and
Territorial Development Erna Witoelar met with Maluku Governor
Saleh Latuconsina and local religious and community leaders to
obtain firsthand information on the situation in the riot-torn
area.

"We discussed the latest security conditions as well as plans
for reconciliation and rehabilitating facilities in areas hit by
riots, namely Ambon island, Central Maluku, North Maluku and
Southeast Maluku," Erna said. (49/edt)