No martial law in Maluku: Government, DPR

JAKARTA (JP): The government and the House of Representatives (DPR) have agreed that the state of civil emergency in the Maluku islands should remain intact and ruled out the possibility of imposing martial law to stop the continuing clashes there.

Speaking to reporters following a meeting to discuss the issue, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said the legislative body had urged the Indonesian Military (TNI) to take both stricter and forcible measures to put an end to all kinds of violence that have plagued Maluku and North Maluku provinces for 18 months.

"The civil emergency status is still needed, and TNI can take more effective measures in the area," Akbar told a media briefing which followed the meeting.

The gathering was attended by Interim Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Surjadi Soedirdja, Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono, Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra, TNI chief Adm. Widodo A.S., Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, the House leaders and provincial legislators from Maluku, North Maluku and Central Sulawesi.

There was no immediate explanation as to why Maluku Governor Saleh Latucosina as the civil emergency ruler of the territory was not invited to the meeting.

Akbar further said the House could understand the lack of funds to finance TNI's operation in the troubled province and that a review of the budget would be discussed in the near future.

Friday's meeting also resulted in an agreement to intensify gun sweeps, forcing Laskar Jihad (Jihad Force) Muslim volunteers to quit the islands and to take stern measures against all Army personnel allegedly involved in the clashes.

Juwono later told The Jakarta Post that the government would rely on the Navy to apprehend Laskar Jihad members and remove them from the provinces on the grounds that they had ignited fresh clashes there.

"The dispatch of Laskar Jihad and any other forces has reached almost 10,000 people in the last three months and they have become the main reason for the ongoing ground conflict," Juwono said.

He said the Navy would concentrate on the areas most prone to conflict.

Juwono also said "neutral" security personnel would be sent to Maluku to replace personnel who had taken sides with the warring groups.

"The Malukus are ready to make peace and are tired of conflict. As soon as these people are out and the Army personnel who were involved are punished, the locals can certainly reconciliate," he added.

U.S. statement

Meanwhile, the United States expressed "deep concern" over the escalating sectarian violence and a statement released on Friday by the U.S. Embassy here urged the government to step up its efforts to halt the clashes.

"We urge the government to take further measures to prevent the bloodshed, and take action against those who initiate violence," it said.

The statement also urged Jakarta to "stop extremists from outside areas from inflaming the situation and engaging in violence" and ensure that troops adhered to "international standards for the protection of civil rights".

Tension was rife in the Maluku capital of Ambon on Friday following clashes that claimed at least nine lives and injured over 20 others.

Officials at Dr. Haulussy General Hospital, Bakti Rahayu Private Hospital and Al Fatah Islamic Hospital revealed that more victims were admitted for immediate treatment, most of whom were suffering from wounds inflicted by gunshots, mortar attacks, grenades and bomb shrapnel.

Three people reportedly died on Friday as they were trapped in gunfights between security personnel in Diponegoro subdistrict and clashes between troops and rioters in the areas of Batugantung, Kampung Kolam, Pohon Ganemo, Mardika and Hatiwe Kecil.

A local reporter who witnessed the exchange of fire in Diponegoro said the incident involved troops from Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) 509th battalion and the National Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob), who were guarding the Diponegoro Atas area and other units from, among others, East Java's Brawijaya Military Command and Central Java's Diponegoro Military Command who were guarding the Diponegoro Bawah area.

No immediate confirmation from officials was available.

As of late on Friday, gunfire and explosions were still being heard in several areas across the city. (49/dja/edt)