Riots flare up in Ambon and South Sulawesi

Riots flare up in Ambon and South Sulawesi

JAKARTA (JP): Ten people died and more than 100 were injured
in communal clashes that exploded on Tuesday in the Maluku
provincial capital of Ambon. The incident followed Thursday's
rioting in Dobo, Southeast Maluku, 700 kilometers to the east, in
which eight people died and dozens more were injured.

Antara reported on Wednesday that 30 houses, 15 cars, 25
motorcycles and 50 pedicabs were set on fire during the incident
involving residents from the predominately Muslim subdistrict of
Batumerah and the predominantly Christian subdistrict of Mahardi.

Young and old alike took to the streets armed with knives and
an assortment of crude weapons after hearing rumors that nearby
churches and mosques had been set on fire.

The clash was reportedly triggered by a personal quarrel
between a minibus driver from Mardika--????? and a resident of
Batumerah. After failing to find his quarry, the driver and two
friends reportedly stirred up trouble in Batumerah as local
Muslims were preparing for Idul Fitri.

The ensuing quarrel escalated into an open clash between the
two areas, the news agency reported.

The Maluku Provincial Police chief Col. Karyono said on
Wednesday that hundreds of troops and 400 riot police had been
sent to the area.

"Security personnel have been deployed...to prevent the clash
from spreading to other areas," he said.

Lt. Col. Afrizal Asyari, the chief of Ambon Police Precinct,
told The Jakarta Post by telephone on Wednesday that the security
forces had succeeded in restoring order.

"The situation in the city is now under control," he said.

Without mentioning any names, Karyono accused certain
individuals of inciting the Christians to "revenge" by spreading
rumors that Muslims had burned churches in the city.

The chairman of the Maluku Churches Synod, Rev. Summy Titaley,
and the chairman of the local chapter of the Indonesian Council
of Muslim Ulemas, H. Sanusi, met with Governor Saleh Latuconsina
and called for peace and restraint.

In Dobo on the island of Aru, tension remained high following
last Thursday's unrest in which eight people died, several others
were injured and 58 houses were damaged.

Waremra, a secretary to the local chapter of Golkar, said the
riots grew out of a personal quarrel between two residents.

"The clash degenerated into mass rioting after local people
joined in the fray when their houses were hit by some stray
rocks," he said as quoted by Antara.

Lt. Col. Simson Munthe, chief of the Southeast Maluku Police
Precinct, said dozens of people were being questioned over the
bloodshed.

Meanwhile in Sabbang, Luwu, around 470 kilometers north of the
South Sulawesi provincial capital of Ujungpandang, local Muslims
were unable to celebrate Idul Fitri in the normal fashion because
of continued sporadic clashes between different ethnic groups in
the area. The clashes first began in the area on Jan. 11.

Intermittent gunfire was reported in several villages in the
regency.

"We can't go out and visit relatives for Idul Fitri because we
fear fresh clashes," a Muslim resident of Poppaniki village told
the Post.

He blamed the trouble on tension between local residents and
migrants from the regencies of Tana Toraja, Soppeng, Sengkang and
Bone.

Sgt. Iskandaria, chief of a Mobile Brigade platoon deployed in
the village of Kalotok, said the police planned to launch an
operation to confiscate homemade rifles.

In Banjarnegara, Central Java, hundreds of Perja villagers in
Purworajo Klampok district burned a car and pelted houses and
shops following a reported theft involving a resident of Bukateja
village. Some 20 kilometer away, a brawl took place in Pakelan
village, Madukara district, in which 15 youths were injured.
(27/rms/45)