Riot-hit Ambon calm despite protest over Gus Dur remark

Riot-hit Ambon calm despite protest over Gus Dur remark

JAKARTA (JP): Fragile calm returned on Friday to the ravaged
Maluku capital of Ambon, rippled only by 500 Muslims voicing
protest against Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid's remarks on
Thursday concerning the unrest there, witnesses said.

The heavy presence of troops was felt throughout the city, a
day after the military took over control from police to quell
weeks of clashes between Muslims and Christians which have killed
more than 180 people.

"Muslims and Christians have resumed activities in their own
neighborhoods, but the city is still tense," Syafri Mulyadi, a
staff member at the downtown Al Fatah Mosque, told The Jakarta
Post by phone from Ambon.

He said about 500 Muslim youths staged a protest at the mosque
earlier in the day against Abdurrahman, who said on SCTV that
Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina should be replaced, as his
favoritism toward Muslim officials was the "source" of the
violence. Abdurrahman also said several Armed Forces members from
Sulawesi were involved in the unrest.

Most of the Muslim refugees in the mosque were originally from
South and Southeast Sulawesi.

Syafri described how dozens of marines stood guard outside the
mosque so Friday prayers could proceed peacefully.

An Army helicopter hovered above the city, dropping leaflets
warning that troops would take harsh measures against rioters and
appealing to residents to lay down their weapons.

"The city is relatively calm and I hope this keeps up," Jacky
Manuputih, a member of a fact-finding team from the Maluku
Protestant Church, told the Post.

"Troops are everywhere, especially in the riot-prone areas
such as Batu Merah, Galunggung, Tantui and Air Salobar," Jacky
said.

From Jakarta, a team of lawyers from the Maluku Protestant
Church said in a report, a copy of which was obtained by the Post
on Friday, that nine people were killed in the violence on
Wednesday after security personnel opened fire on fighting
residents.

The report also said a Christian man was fatally stabbed in a
Muslim attack in Kebun Cengkeh area on Thursday.

"Jacob Somnaikubun, a retired civilian staff member from the
Armed Forces (ABRI), was killed in his own house at around 8:30
p.m. on Thursday," the report said.

It also said that a number of Christian houses in the Benteng
Atas, Air Salobar and Taman Makmur areas were set on fire by fuel
bombs on Friday.

Meanwhile, ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto was quoted by Antara as
saying on Friday the riot control campaign in Ambon had been
taken over by reinforcement troops from Java, and local security
personnel had been instructed to do administrative duties.

"It is impossible to transfer (the local security personnel)
to other places, so they have been instructed to do
administrative duties," Wiranto was quoted as saying.

Wiranto, however, denied the decision was made because local
security personnel were incompetent.

"It is just a matter of precaution, because not all of the
local security forces are from Ambon. Some hail from other
regions," he said.

Wiranto sent about 2,000 troops from Java last week to quell
the riots and rebuild the devastated city.

He also said last week that troops from the South Sulawesi
capital of Ujungpandang would be withdrawn "to avoid the
impression of extending protection to one particular ethnic
group".

Commenting on the transfer of riot control to the military,
Wiranto said the move was aimed at preventing the situation from
worsening further.

He was quoted by Antara as saying the riot control should be
rearranged, with the presence of one full brigade of troops in
Ambon.

The news agency also quoted Trikora Regional Military
Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring, who oversees Maluku and Irian
Jaya, as saying the military would take harsh measures against
those caught damaging mosques or churches.

The violence was first reported on Jan. 19, when a dispute
between a Muslim migrant and a local Christian driver of a public
minibus sparked inter-village clashes.

The situation quickly degenerated into full-scale riots
involving members of both communities. (byg/aan)