One killed in Lombok as violence enters second day
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): At least one man died in Mataram, Lombok, as Monday's religious riots descended into looting sprees on Tuesday.
Udayana Regional Military Commander Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri confirmed the fatality, saying the man was shot on Monday evening as soldiers tried to prevent mobs from looting.
Security personnel had largely succeeded in quelling further attacks on churches and other places of worship on Tuesday, but looting occurred as mobs took advantage of a chaotic situation.
A tense calm had enveloped the usually peaceful island by Tuesday morning, as residents woke up to the sight of destruction in the provincial capital of Mataram.
Later in the afternoon mobs again rampaged, despite calls for peace from religious and community leaders. Witnesses claim houses belonging to Christians were attacked.
In less than three hours about 15 houses and shops had been ransacked. Security personnel were forced to fire tear gas and warning shots to disperse the looters.
By dusk, the city was calm, with few groups seen on the streets.
Security personnel were on guard in the city, while residents were seen at main roads leading to their respective residential areas, protecting them from mob attacks.
The local branch of the Indonesian Red Cross said dozens of people had been injured and were being treated at the Mataram General Hospital.
The riot broke out on Monday, following a gathering to protest the prolonged violence in Maluku.
The crowd later became agitated and went on the rampage. At least 10 churches and places of worship were either torched or damaged on Monday.
Over 1,100 people were being sheltered on Tuesday by the military at either Gebang Naval Headquarters or Rembiga Air Force base in Mataram.
"They want to go home but they are terrified as mobs are still sweeping the road to Lembar Port. The people badly need food and mattresses here," Maj. Winaryanto of the 162 Wirabhakti Military Command told journalists.
People also thronged Selaparang Airport to flee the island. Tuesday's seven Merpati Nusantara Airlines flights from Mataram to Denpasar were fully booked.
Antara reported police had to release 15 alleged rioters on Tuesday, following negotiations between Mataram Mayor HM Ruslan, local legislator Abdul Manan and an unidentified group of men.
The 15 people were caught red-handed torching a church on Monday.
National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesdihardjo in Semarang, Central Java, ordered his men on Tuesday to take resolute action against the rioters. "This is serious," he asserted.
Meanwhile, Chief of the 163/Wirasatya Military Command Col. Nurdin Zainal overseeing neighboring Bali said that preventative steps were being taken to ensure that riots did not spread to the holiday island.
"I've ordered all military district chiefs to monitor areas prone to religious conflicts such as Karangasem, Jembrana and Buleleng, as those area have a mix of Christians and Muslims".
Separately, National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Erald Dotulong said that at least 200 officers from the Police Brigade unit, 100 marine officers, and 100 officers of the Strategic Army Reserves Command (Kostrad), had been sent from Malang, East Java, and Jakarta to Mataram on Tuesday afternoon.
"There are currently 400 police officers and 200 military officers trying very hard to secure the area. We hope the armed reinforcements will be of some help," Erald told The Jakarta Post. (har/zen/edt/ylt)