Probe begins into military rogue shooting incident in Ambon

Probe begins into military rogue shooting incident in Ambon

AMBON, Maluku (JP): A military fact finding team on Friday
began investigations into the involvement of 14 police and
members of the military in abetting a riot by shooting on
soldiers trying to quell a frenzied mob.

The team, led by an assistant for intelligence of the
Indonesian Military (TNI) head of general affairs Brig. Gen.
Zulfahmi, began their probe with an inspection of the sites and
questioning witnesses and the 14 suspects.

No official briefing was given to the press.

A plan to meet with Maluku Governor Latuconsina on Friday had
to be postponed as the governor was away investigating another
case on Seram island.

Separately, Pattimura Military Command Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa
asserted on Friday that the security forces should maintain
neutrality and professionalism in handling the conflict in
Maluku.

"Personally I have no interest in either the Muslim or
Christian camp. We will quell rioters regardless of their
background," Yasa said.

"If I am removed from my post, it must be done based on
objective reasons and not to please certain warring camps as it
will only make that group of rioters feel that they can freely
roam around causing chaos in Maluku," he added.

The alleged involvement of the 14 suspects center around an
incident in which soldiers from a joint security force patrol
were shot at as they were trying to quell a mob on Sunday.

When the source of the sniper was ascertained as being from
the nearby Hotel Wijaya II, soldiers raided the establishment and
captured several military and police officers still holding their
smoking guns.

Meanwhile public debate over the presence of the joint
security force, comprised of Navy Marines, Air Force Special
Force, and the Army's Special Force, continued.

Some groups have rejected the presence of combined forces and
threatened to take matters into their own hands if their demands
are unheeded.

However in some city corners banners continue to be hung
welcoming the joint security forces.

Some 50 personnel of the joint security forces have also been
deployed to restore order in Hatualang village on Seram island in
central Maluku following an armed mob attack on the hamlet on
Wednesday.

Meanwhile a Thai fisherman identified as Amei, 21, died of
gunshot wounds in Dr. Haulussy general hospital in Ambon late on
Thursday.

Amei was a crew on a KM Kalsum 31 fishing vessel in Ambon when
gunmen on speedboats fired shots.

Separately chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Mar'ie
Muhammad visited refugees camps in Kayu Tiga area in Soya village
of Sirimua district and Waehaong in Nusaniwe district and handed
over medicine, food and other aid on Friday.

Mar'ie then met with Maluku deputy governor Paula B. Renyaan
to discuss the handling of some 250,000 Maluku refugees and
handed over Rp 500 million for the operations of PMI posts in
Maluku. (edt/49/27)