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)