Reconciliation efforts stepped up in Maluku
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Maluku civil emergency administrators stepped up reconciliation efforts on Thursday amid seemingly endless terror and violence in the ravaged province of Ambon.
From a vessel, gunmen carried out a drive-by shooting on a speedboat off the Teluk Ambon Baguala waters on Thursday afternoon, injuring one man, police said.
Due to the incident, transportation from Benteng to Galala was cut off as no speedboats dared to cruise the waters.
Shortly after the episode, at about 3 p.m. local time, Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani met with two prominent grassroots Christian camps led by Berti Loupatty and Agus Wattimena in a one-and-a-half-hour briefing in the Kuda Mati area of downtown Ambon.
"I plead with these groups to support the administrator of the civil emergency to restore order in Ambon and Maluku. We strongly urge the groups to practice self-restraint," Firman said after the meeting.
The camps welcomed the motion, but warned the authority that their Muslim rivals must have the same commitment under certain preliminary conditions.
"We want all members of Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah (Jihad Force) to be expelled from Maluku, the 'partial' security forces to be removed from the islands and the riot rehabilitation program to continue," Wattimenna said.
He added that the Christian camps wanted police, instead of soldiers, to actively handle the unrests.
Firman promised to channel the groups' demand and also said that he would soon meet with the leaders of Ambon Muslim camps spread across the areas of Batu Merah, Waehaong, Soa Bali, Jalan Baru, Galunggung, Kebun Cengkih, Kapaha, Kota Jawa and Air Salobar.
Rumors of massive renewed attacks swept through the city on Thursday as overnight explosions and gunfire were heard in the areas of Urimesing, Diponegoro, Talake and Kampung Kolam.
"We've heard reports about the planned attacks that will be intensified right after the closing of Annual Session (of the People's Consultative Assembly in Jakarta) on Aug. 18, but we hope they remain rumors and we plead with people not to be provoked," Firman said.
Separately, civil emergency administrator Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina said that at least 200 members of the Jihad Force were transported back home to Java on the KM Rinjani from Yos Sudarso Port in Ambon at about 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
Approximately 300 Jihad Force members left Maluku for Java on the KM Lambelu last week.
Latuconsina also announced tight controls of the waters off Maluku following the start of a one-month isolation on the ports in the province which began on Thursday.
The decision bars any passenger ships of the state shipping line, PT Pelni, namely the KM Tatamailau, KM Rinjani, KM Dobonsolo, KM Bukit Siguntang and KM Lambelu, from carrying passengers.
"These ships are barred from entering ports in Ambon and others in Maluku province from Thursday through Sept. 10.
"The main reason is because the minor isolation imposed in Ambon is not effective enough to prevent 'unwanted outsiders' and weapons smuggling as the passengers used to threaten the ships' crews," Latuconsina explained on Wednesday.
Tankers are allowed to enter Maluku as it is far easier to check and control their cargo rather than dealing with people, Security Commander of the Eastern Fleet Commodore Djoko Sumaryono pointed out.
In accordance with the isolation, Merpati Airlines has agreed to add to its regular flights to and from Ambon every Friday, making a total of four trips per week. (49/edt)