Military to search for weapons in Ambon

Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

Maluku's Pattimura Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso reiterated his warning on Monday that security forces would search door to door for illegal weapons in the troubled province.

The two warring factions -- Muslim and Christian -- had been given till June 30 to give up their weapons, otherwise security forces would use force to deal with those refusing to do so.

"As the deadline has passed, we will continue to conduct sweeping raids for weapons in areas of both (Muslims and Christians)," Djoko told journalists after attending a ceremony on Monday which marked the 56th anniversary of the National Police at Merdeka (Freedom) Square in Ambon, the capital city of Maluku.

Djoko, who also leads the Maluku security restoration operation, said raids would be conducted in the main streets and houses of Ambon and other towns in the province to search for sharp weapons in an attempt to prevent further violence.

He made a similar warning on Sunday when Christians from Kudamati village near Ambon voluntarily surrendered weapons to the Pattimura military command.

"As long as there is no reconciliation among local feuding people, we will continue sweeping operations. We will do so legally," he said.

Djoko said he believed there must be certain people who had refused to give up their arms despite the expiration of the deadline.

The illegal weapons surrendered by the Kudamati residents included five firearms, hundreds of home-made guns, 206 home-made bombs, seven magazines, hundreds of bullets and hundreds of traditional arms, including machetes, arrows and swords.

Residents in Kudamati said they surrendered their illegal weapons without force by security personnel, although they were still traumatized by a deadly attack on people in Soya, a Christian village near Ambon.

At least 13 people were killed when a gang of masked people stormed Soya on Apr. 28, 2002 and set fire to 24 houses and a church dating back to 1876.

The attack, blamed on members of the militant Laskar Jihad Muslim group, was one of the worst incidents of violence to erupt since a peace deal was signed by warring the Christian and Muslim groups on Feb. 12.

Kudamati residents admitted the surrender followed assurances by the local security forces to protect them from any attacks from rival gangs.

Djoko and Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko hailed the move by the Kudamati residents to hand over their weapons voluntarily.

"This shows a spiritual circumstance among those people, which could lead to the possibility of Muslims and Christians living together again," Soenarko said.

He said the police along with the military would strive hard to protect all Maluku people from any attack.