One policeman killed in Ambon gunfights

One policeman killed in Ambon gunfights

AMBON, Maluku (JP): One policeman was killed and 17 police and
marine personnel injured during overnight gunfights between the
two groups, an officer said on Friday.

"The policeman who died in the fray was First Brig. Erinus
Saragih and his body has been flown to Jakarta," Maluku Police
chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani told The Jakarta Post by phone.

"The situation is now under control and everything is OK. The
dispute took place because the troops were tense," he said.

Firman said the dispute was triggered by a minor
misunderstanding between a member of the police's Mobile Brigade
(Brimob) and a group of marines.

"The two units are actually close companions. On Thursday, a
Brimob officer went shopping near the Halong Naval Base. As he
was not wearing his uniform some marines became suspicious of him
and beat him ... only to learn later that he is a policeman.

"The incident degenerated into gunfights near Lateri and Passo
villages and a member of the Water Police, Erinus, was killed by
a stray bullet," he said.

Twelve policeman were treated at Latumeten Army Hospital in
Ambon, while five marines were hospitalized at the Halong Navy
Hospital.

The incident caused panic among residents, who locked
themselves into their homes or fled the area.

"We hope that gunfights such as these never take place
again ... security forces should be our protectors, they should
not be fighting each other," a local resident said.

Several offices in Lateri and Passo villages in Teluk Ambon
Baguala were damaged during the melee.

In a separate development, Firman said he has replaced Comr.
Abdi Darma Sitepu, who was to become the Brimob chief n Maluku,
with Adj. Sr. Comr. Hapsoro, who is due to arrive in Ambon in the
next few days.

Abdi Darma had just arrived in Ambon and was staying in the
Hotel Wijaya II when a joint military force raided the hotel on
Jan. 22, arresting 14 police and military personnel allegedly
involved in rogue shootings during a fray in Batu Merah. Abdi
also was arrested in the raid, but he was later released.

"Abdi will become a Brimob battalion commander at Brimob's
base in Kelapa Dua, Jakarta. I think he does not yet have the
necessary field experience to lead the squad in Maluku.

"Psychologically, it is also hard for him to lead the Brimob
in Maluku because of the incident at Hotel Wijaya II," Firman
said.

He also said that the 14 police and military personnel
arrested at Hotel Wijaya II would be prosecuted by the military
police.

"Although the National Police is now directly under the
president's supervision, the law on court-martials has not been
changed. So the 12 police officers (arrested at the hotel) will
be tried in the military court," Firman said

He also said he believed the investigation into the incident,
which is being led by the intelligence assistant to the
Indonesian Military chief of general affairs, Brig. Gen.
Zulfahmi, was fair and impartial.

Soldiers from a special joint security force -- comprising
members of the Navy's marines, the Air Force's Paskhas and the
Army's Kopassus -- apprehended 14 military and police personnel
who allegedly shot at them as they were attempting to quell riots
that had claimed the lives of 10 people. The security force
seized from the 14 suspects bullets, several guns and two grams
of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine). (edt/49)