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)