Residents flee as RMS jubilee nears

Residents flee as RMS jubilee nears

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

Fearing a repeat of last year, many Ambon residents were taking
refuge in safer areas as Monday's anniversary of the separatist
group, South Maluku Republic (RMS) is likely to be celebrated.
"We fear that riots will again take place in the city. For our
own safety, we're going to take refuge in a safer place," said
Dodi Passal, 32, a resident in Waringin area in Ambon city on
Saturday.

Dodi's fear might be justified as his house is located right
on the border of the Muslim and Christian sectors of the
religiously divided town, an area prone to sectarian conflict,
especially as most Christians support RMS and most Muslims
currently residing here do not.

The area became a warzone between Muslims and Christians
during sectarian riots that broke out in January 1999 and lasted
for several years, as well as the relatively smaller rampage on
April 25 last year. Dozens of people were killed and hundreds of
others were injured during sectarian rioting last year that was
triggered by the commemoration of the RMS' 54th anniversary.

Dodi recalled that he lost valuables and a part of his house
was burned down last year.

"We were not prepared at that time. Heavy violence suddenly
broke out, which prompted us to flee to safety. We left our house
and it then became an easy target for irresponsible people," said
Dodi, who is a Christian.

Dodi and his family had already packed up their valuables and
were heading for a safer area.

There is a police post about 200 meters away from the house,
but Dodi still feels unsafe.

"The security personnel cannot ensure our safety. Parts of our
house were still burned down last year although police were right
here in large numbers," he said.

Similarly, Abraham Wattimena, 42, a resident in the
Batugantung area in Sirimau district, and his family also chose
to take refuge in a safer area. "We will bring our diplomas and
other valuables with us and we will leave other things at home,"
said Abraham.

People normally stay with relatives on the outskirts of Ambon
or other nearby islands.

In an ominous sign of possible trouble in the Waringin area, a
Muslim area, women and children have already been sent away to
safer places, while the men have stayed put, according to Achmad
Hatala, 41.

However, not all Ambonese living near the Christian-Muslim
border are planning to leave, as was the case of Abdul Hakim
Tanamal.

Tanamal will stay at home in Talake subdistrict with his wife
and two children despite fears of violence on April 25. He said
he had "surrendered his life to God".

Police officers are apparently aware of the gravity of the
situation, so they began sending reinforcements to the area on
Friday. They have also built new posts in some areas considered
to be RMS strongholds, such as the Kudamati area in Nusaniwe
district.

Interestingly, the police have even occupied the house of RMS
leaders such as Alex Manuputty, who is in exile in the United
States.

Chief of Ambon and Lease Islands Adj. Sr. Comr. Leonidas
Braksan said that the police had divided the religiously
segregated city of Ambon into seven security zones.

The first zone, which is the most insecure, is Nusaniwe
district. The other security zones are Sirimau, Baguala, Saparua,
Haruku, Salahutu and Leihitu, the latter considered the most
secure among the seven. The police have built outposts in every
zone, and the number of security personnel rotated to each will
depend on the degree of security in the respective areas.

The number of security personnel guarding all seven areas is
745, with 435 of them from the Maluku Provincial Police.

The police officers are backed up by Army soldiers deployed to
Ambon for the RMS anniversary on Monday.

As the city braces for the 55th RMS commemoration, students
from Islam-oriented Darussalam University in Ambon held
demonstration on Friday and distributed small red and white
national flags to passersby near the campus.

The situation in Ambon remains tense after a bomb rocked the city
on Friday, three days ahead of a separatist anniversary. No
fatalities were reported after the bombing on Jl. Sitanala, but
police have arrested five people for questioning.