Navy opens blockade in Maluku waters

JAKARTA (JP): The Navy has imposed a blockade in Maluku waters to help prevent the spread of violence in the area and expedite evacuations, which have transported some 17,500 people in less than a week.

Nine ships -- KRI Multatuli, KRI Hasan Basri, KRI Rencong, KRI Pattimura, KRI Kakap, KRI Teluk Sabang, KRI Teluk Penyu, KRI Teluk Peleng, and another unnamed ship -- are sailing through the waters to prevent "unidentified" ships from commuting between or entering the area of the riot-hit islands.

Navy spokesman Commodore T. Ontowiryo said in a statement here on Thursday the blockade was under the direct command of Commodore Ferdinand Manengkey, commander of the Eastern Region Combat Squadron.

Five scout planes have also been assigned to the blacked.

The blockade would hopefully prevent rioters from moving from one island to another.

Ontowiryo also said the navy would step up its efforts to assist those seeking evacuation from riot-torn areas.

He said the navy has helped evacuate 17,500 refugees from Halmahera since Jan. 1.

The state-owned shipping company PT Pelni has halted services to Maluku after last weekend's hijacking of one of its ships.

Communication minister Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar said the inexcusable act could not be tolerated and rather than taking the risk he had agreed to suspend services.

He said the ministry in cooperation with the Naval base in Bitung are preparing buses and other modes of transport for those wishing to return to Ternate.

Meanwhile in Ambon, Maluku Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela asserted that despite the unending communal conflict in the area there was no need to impose a Military Operations Area (DOM).

"The case of Maluku is not the same as that of Aceh, where rioters clash with security forces. So, there is no need for DOM status in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku," Tamaela said as quoted by Antara here on Thursday afternoon.

"The most important thing is to separate the two conflicting camps to prevent further clashes," he said.

President Abdurrahman Wahid has already said he would not impose martial law in the area.

The year-long religious conflict, which has mostly been centered around Ambon, spread in the past fortnight to neighboring islands in North Maluku.

While over 1,000 people have died as a result of clashes in Ambon, the number of dead in Halmahera and the surrounding islands is unclear.

After the first four days of fighting official estimates put the number of dead at about 450.

Since then the toll has varied according to the source.

Casualties

Antara cited on Thursday Musriyono Nabiu, head of the North Maluku Health Team, as claiming that 991 people had died in seven districts in Halmahera Island, North Maluku, since Dec. 26.

Speaking on the sidelines of a visit to Ternate by State Minister for Social Affairs Anak Agung Gde Agung, Musriyono said the worst hit area was Tobelo district, with 421 dead.

He said current figures did not include casualties in the Central Hamahera districts of Weda, Iba and Wasile, where clashes were also reported.

State minister Anak Agung Gde Agung was in Ternate to deliver special aid for victims of the violence from President Abdurrahman.

About 500 tons of rice and other foodstuffs were handed over to help the thousands of refugees in the town of 120,000 people.

In Ambon, Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina said he regretted inaccurate media reports which have tended to exaggerate the number of dead.

"I really regret the way the press has focused on this without double-checking their sources," he said, adding that such reports were creating an unhealthy atmosphere and did little to help the peace that local officials were trying to forge.

Pattimura Military Command chief Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela told journalists on Thursday that he regretted the use of the term pembantaian (genocide) by several Jakarta-based newspapers.

He said the deaths were the result of fierce clashes between two warring groups.

The reports of mass killings have provoked several demonstrations in Jakarta and other major cities in the last few days; some Muslim groups have pledged a "holy war" to avenge the deaths of Muslims in Maluku.

Meanwhile Ambon has remained generally peaceful over the last two days. Offices were open on Thursday, but very few employees were present.

A curfew is still imposed, but people said they felt more secure.

The military continued door-to-door searches for weapons. In Batu Merah on Thursday, the military confiscated 17 homemade long rifles, one pair of military binoculars, 50 5.56 mm caliber bullets and five pistol bullets from houses. (48)