More unrest in Ambon

AMBON, Maluku: Violence erupted once again here on Thursday when motorists were attacked and speedboat passengers shot by rioters in separate incidents, resulting in at least one death and 14 injuries.

The first incident occurred around 9:00 a.m. as a group packed the street around a mosque in Batumerah village, Sirimau subdistrict, causing traffic congestion.

However the crowd suddenly turned violent and attacked passing cars, injuring several of the motorists.

Two men, Yusuf Anakotapary and Yan Wattimena, who were riding together on a motorcycle were among those attacked. Their fate remains unknown.

A spokesman for the Civil Emergency Post, John Tomasoa, said the families of the two men have reported them missing.

John said that the military and the Maluku branch of Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) were investigating the case.

Later in the afternoon at around 4 p.m., armed men from the direction of Rumahtiga and Poka village beach at the Ambon Gulf began indiscriminately shooting.

Details of the incident remain sketchy but it is known that one man, Yan Sopacua, 41, was killed. About 10 others have been taken for treatment at Ambon Navy Hospital at Halong. (49/hdn)