Reinforcements arrive in Ambon

Reinforcements arrive in Ambon

JAKARTA (JP): Two battalions of reinforcement troops arrived
in the Maluku capital of Ambon on Thursday as ongoing violence
between Muslims and Christians in the city claimed at least two
more victims and injured nine others.

Antara news agency reported Adam Nirahua, 50, and an
unidentified man were killed in a clash which erupted on Thursday
morning in Ahuru in the Karang Panjang subdistrict. Dozens of
houses in the area were also set on fire during the violence.

Antara also reported at least 22 people were killed during
communal clashes in the Aster housing complex in Hative Kecil on
Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Thursday, however, Reuters and AFP reported that the Army's
Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) troops massacred the 22 when
they were trapped inside the nearby Yabok church on Wednesday.

A witness who spoke on condition of anonymity also made the
same claim. He told The Jakarta Post that five of the bodies were
identified as Simon Titaley, Steven Latuharhary, Manuhutu, Ulis
Puturulan and Chale Septori.

Maluku police spokesman Maj. Jekriel Philip, however, denied
the report.

"It is not true, there was no massacre at all and according to
the reports from security personnel in the field, they were
killed in the (communal) fighting," Jekriel told the Post.

Antara said three of the victims from the communal clashes had
been buried, seven corpses were still at the site of violence in
Hative, nine of the corpses were taken to nearby Immanuel Church,
two of the victims were at the morgue of a Navy hospital in
Halong and another was taken to Latumeten Army Hospital.

Muslim activist Abu Jihad from Al-Fatah Mosque told The
Jakarta Post by phone from Ambon that at least one man injured in
the violence in Ahuru was admitted to Al-Fatah Hospital.

Christian activist Yosef from Silo Church said security
personnel fired warning shots to disperse a group of people
carrying sharp weapons on the street near the church.

Meanwhile, Maj. Jekriel said at least 850 Army Strategic
Reserves Command (Kostrad) troops from the Central Java towns of
Salatiga and Magelang arrived in Ambon aboard the KRI Teluk Bayur
naval ship on Thursday morning.

Maluku Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela was quoted by
Antara as saying there were now four battalions of reinforcement
troops from outside the province in Ambon. A battalion consists
of up to 600 personnel.

One battalion of marines arrived in Ambon late last month to
quell the renewed violence between Muslims and Christians which
erupted on July 27.

Jekriel said that since the recent outbreak of violence, at
least 67 people had been killed and 377 more injured.

He did not say how many people were killed on Thursday.

He also said at least 513 houses, 17 cars, six motorcycles and
57 pedicabs were set on fire during the renewed violence.

Witnesses said on Thursday sporadic gunshots were heard in
some parts of the city, while billowing smoke from burning houses
was also seen.

Witnesses also said shops and businesses were still closed and
city streets deserted.

"Only military vehicles can be seen on the streets these
days," a hotel employee in Ambon, Lita, told the Post.

A military spokesman said on Wednesday more than 34,000 people
had sought refuge in 35 locations, including mosques, churches
and military barracks, since late July.

More than 350 people have been killed in the communal clashes
in Maluku which first erupted in Ambon in mid-January. (byg/48)