Sectarian violence back on streets of Ambon

Sectarian violence back on streets of Ambon

JAKARTA (JP): After a fairly peaceful election campaign,
violence broke out in Ambon, Maluku, on Wednesday.

Tension again flared between Christians and Muslims before and
after a United Development Party (PPP) campaign in the Muslim-
dominated area of Galunggung in Batumerah Atas village.

As of late Wednesday, there were no reports of casualties. The
main targets of violence on Wednesday were public transportation
passengers. The vehicles were able to speed away when crowds
began pelting stones at them.

Before entering the PPP rally site at the local soccer field
in the afternoon, party supporters on trucks began throwing
stones at public transportation vehicles believed to be carrying
Christians, a witness said.

PPP supporters became upset when security personnel at the
border of Batumerah and Mardika, a Christian-dominated area,
halted their street rally.

Around the same time, Christians in Mardika area were throwing
stones at public transportation vehicles believed to be carrying
Muslims.

Public transportation vehicles bear the names of the areas
from which they are traveling, a telling sign of whether they are
coming from Muslim or Christian enclaves. At least three vehicles
were damaged in Galunggung.

However, a rally by the Christian-leaning Love the Nation
Democratic Party (PDKB) near the PPP campaign site was
undisturbed.

Around 6:30 p.m., crowds gathered around Al Fatah Mosque and
Silo Church. PPP supporters pelted stones at stores near the
mosque owned by Chinese-Indonesians. Security forces, which have
been on alert since January, were able to prevent the situation
from deteriorating.

Police refused to comment on the incident, which was in stark
contrast to previous campaigns involving Muslim-based parties,
only saying they did not have information on victims and that
they would address the media on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) held a peaceful rally in Ambon, with some 25,000
people turning out to welcome chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Meanwhile, Ambon is bracing for a campaign appearance on
Thursday by Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid of the National
Awakening Party (PKB). He arrived in Ambon on Wednesday
afternoon.

Police have not said if they are making special preparations
for the PKB campaign.

Muslim residents here were upset when Abdurrahman, better
known as Gus Dur, blamed the violence in Ambon on the nepotistic
practice of placing too many Muslim officials in the local
administration, upsetting the balance between Muslims and
Christians in the once seemingly harmonious province.

Hundreds of people have been killed in Ambon and tens of
thousands of people have fled the province in recent months.

In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, where at least 11 people were
injured in clashes among party supporters and university students
on Tuesday, students from six universities called for the
rejection of Megawati as a presidential candidate.

They also urged the public not to vote for PDI Perjuangan.

In the clashes here on Tuesday, supporters of PDI Perjuangan
tore down a banner on the campus of the Indonesian Muslim
University (UMI) which said Islam did not approve of women from
becoming leaders.

PDI Perjuangan believes the issue of gender is being used to
harm Megawati's presidential aspirations.

Five Muslim parties here -- PPP, PKB, the Indonesian Muslim
Party (PUMI), the New Masyumi Party and the Suni Party -- have
rejected the possibility of a female president.

Students set on fire a billboard bearing the likeness of
Megawati and made passersby remove their PDI Perjuangan T-shirts.

The rector of UMI, Mansyur Ramly, said the banner was meant to
remind Muslims to seriously consider before choosing their next
leader and was not meant to offend anyone.

Meanwhile, in Brebes regency, Central Java, Golkar Party
members and supporters were pelted with stones, leaving two
injured, Central Java Golkar secretary Sutoyo Abdi said.

On Tuesday, dozens of Golkar security guards were pelted with
stones and rotten eggs. Unknown persons also vandalized 500
Golkar flags on Tuesday night. Some 1,000 PPP flags in Sragen,
Central Java, were also vandalized on Wednesday. (48/30/har)