One killed in Lombok as violence enters second day

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)