Quick resolution to avoid foreign troops in Maluku
JAKARTA (JP): Senior police and Army generals on Wednesday warned that a swift and concrete end to the violence in the Maluku islands must be found if the government is serious in its determination to reject international interference.
National Police Chief Gen. Rusdihardjo pointed out the necessity of substantial progress towards peace, if Jakarta maintains that international peacekeepers are not needed.
"We object to the presence of United Nations troops in Maluku, as a consequence, we must restore security there soon," Rusdihardjo told journalists before attending a weekly Cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.
Army Chief Gen. Tyasno Sudarto also said the presence of international peacekeepers in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku would be very dangerous for Indonesia's integrity.
"In my opinion, all components of the nation, the government and the Foreign Ministry, must solve the Maluku case as soon as possible and prevent any attempt to invite foreign intervention," the general said.
President Abdurrahman has said that Indonesia would at the most ask for international technical and logistical assistance if the government cannot overcome the conflict.
Meanwhile in Ambon, a 17 year-old boy was shot dead by snipers on Wednesday afternoon.
Hery Kalibongso was killed near the Pattimura Military headquarters on Batu Gajah area around 4 p.m. local time.
"He was on a truck, trying to evacuate his relatives when suddenly shots were fired from upper Diponegoro area. The bullet hit his chest and tore his lung," a paramedic at Bakti Rahayu Hospital said.
The latest casualty brought the death toll to over 100 since the imposition of a state of civil emergency in the two provinces on June 27.
On Wednesday heavily armed rioters were seen again trying to torch the Urimesing area and several buildings on Jl. Diponegoro.
Meanwhile, Pattimura Military chief Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa urged Maluku Governor Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina to issue a special decree as legal grounds for the military and police to expel unwanted outsiders from the province.
"We must issue a legal base for it. We cannot just deport them. Who can guarantee that in the future there will be no charges against the military for taking stern measures?" he said in Ambon.
In his capacity as the highest decision maker under the civil emergency state in Maluku, the governor issued his regulation No. 1/pdsdm/2000 on checking identity cards for any visitors to the region.
"If they do not have complete documents and a strong purpose to come here, the security forces will forbid their entrance," said M. Eli, a provincial official.
Separately the Territorial Assistant of the Pattimura Military Command Col. Budiatmo denied on Wednesday allegations that he was involved in "nurturing riots" in Ambon.
"There should be no doubt that I am accepted by Maluku people, both from Muslim and Christian camps. I can mingle with anybody," he said on Wednesday.
George Aditjondro, an Indonesian scholar, who is also a lecturer at Australia's Newcastle University, accused two military officers, namely Budiatmo and intelligence assistant of Pattimura Military Command Col. Nano Sutarno as the ones "who keep establishing the conflict". (49/edt/prb)