New security operation to be tested in Maluku
New security operation to be tested in Maluku
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Maluku's civil emergency administrators
have decided to try out a new type of security operation in an
attempt to stop raids on villages following Sunday's attack on
Kase village, Buru Island, which killed at least three people.
"In this operation, the combined law enforcement agencies --
military, police and prosecutors -- will maximize the use of
intelligence units to identify assailants and their hiding
places. If we have enough evidence, we will raid them," Governor
Saleh Latuconsina told reporters after a meeting of Maluku
provincial leaders on Wednesday.
Latuconsina said the authorities had located and identified
the alleged perpetrators of the Kase unrest, but he declined to
elaborate further.
He added that the security forces had been observing the
hideouts of the assailants and attempting to gather evidence
concerning their training camp.
"A team of investigators has been deployed to carry out
intensive surveillance on the perpetrators' hideouts," he said.
One infantry battalion had been deployed along with a joint
team of law enforcers to anticipate further attacks on Buru
island, Saleh said.
Witnesses said the attackers in the Kase village incident
arrived in two boats from waters to the east of the village,
while others came from the direction of Nanfae Hau village, about
nine kilometers away from Kase village.
Three persons died of gunshot wounds during the attack, while
other villagers fled into the jungle to avoid the violence.
Latuconsina further said that security operations in the
future would be different from regular security patrols as troops
would be concentrated in the vicinity riot-prone enclaves.
The planned operations would also be concentrated on several
disturbed border areas, like the areas between Tial and Suli
villages, Paso and Waiheru villages, Laha and Tawiri villages,
and between Batumerah and Mardika.
Latuconsina said he had sent warning letters to the illegal
radio stations that had been airing provocative messages aimed at
certain groups and at encouraging people to take up arms.
The radio stations had been given a deadline to stop
broadcasting, but Latuconsina did not mention the exact date.
"If the warning is ignored, we will seize their broadcasting
equipment," Latuconsina said.
When asked whether the police had taken action against the
illegal radio stations, Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman
Gani declined to comment.
Separately, Commander of the Indonesian Navy's Eastern Fleet
Rear Adm. Sutarto said an integrated air and sea operation would
be launched in a bid to maintain security in Maluku waters.
At least eight ships and three Nomad helicopters would be
deployed as part of the operation.
Besides securing the Maluku waters' assets, the operation
would also involve intercepting ships illegally entering Maluku
waters and preventing attempts to smuggle weapons.
He cited that last week, the Naval vessel Kerapu managed to
arrest a Philippine fishing boat that had allegedly illegally
entered Maluku waters on a gunrunning mission.
Sutarto said four rifles, four pistols and various types of
sharp weapons had been seized from the ship's crew.
"Two people were arrested during the incident and they have
been handed over to the police for questioning," he said.
(49/emf)