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.