Semblance of calm returns to Ambon

Semblance of calm returns to Ambon

JAKARTA (JP): A semblance of calm returned on Monday to riot-
torn Ambon, capital of the province of Maluku even as troops
continued to patrol areas affected by days of communal clashes
that killed at least 50 people last week.

Local politician Mohammad Kasubah of the Ambon chapter of the
Justice Party told The Jakarta Post, "The situation is getting
better."

"A number of shops and markets have reopened for business and
a few public transportation vehicles are already running, but
schools and offices remain closed," Kasubah said, adding that
troops were patrolling downtown Ambon.

He said, however, supplies in those shops were very limited so
purchases were rationed.

The clashes between Muslims and Christians in the city and
nearby island of Sanana had also injured more than 100 people. In
some cases of murder, victims were dragged out of vehicles,
stabbed to death, then doused in gasoline and set on fire.

Military and local officials have warned that the death toll
will rise as troops and rescue workers are still sifting through
the debris of burned out buildings.

"A team from the Justice Party found only this (Monday)
morning the mutilated bodies of two males," Kasubah said.

The security authorities could not be reached for confirmation
of the party's finding.

Kasubah said some of the 27,000 people who had taken refuge in
military complexes, mosques, churches and other buildings were
beginning to return to their homes.

"But only those who still have places to go to. Those who have
lost their homes to fire or whose houses were damaged in the
clashes remain in shelters," Kasubah said.

He also said the Pattimura Airport had reopened with at least
one Merpati flight from Surabaya landing there on Monday morning.

During the days of unrest, only military flights carrying
thousands of reinforcement troops to restore order could land at
the airport.

Kasubah also said the Al Fatah mosque and its surrounding
areas in the center of the city had been blacked out since
violence erupted on Tuesday.

Reports said that many areas in Ambon were blacked out after a
fire damaged the city's power network.

The violence was sparked by a fight between a migrant Muslim
and a local Christian public transportation driver on Tuesday.
The incident then quickly degenerated into full-scale rioting
involving members of both communities. Villagers armed themselves
with an assortment of weapons.

The police have so far said 49 people were killed. The
casualty figures vary with some sources estimating a death toll
as high as 55.

The Armed Forces said on Sunday that 50 people had been
arrested so far in connection with the riots.

Trikora Regional Military Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring
slapped last week a night curfew on the city and issued shoot-on-
sight orders for anyone who resisted being disarmed. (byg)