Situation in Maumere remains tense

Yacob Herin and Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Sikka/Kupang

East Nusa Tenggara Police chief Insp. Gen. Yacobus Jacky Uli and West Timor Military District chief Col. Moeswarno Moesanip issued a joint statement banning all military and police personnel in Sikka regency from leaving their living quarters following an attack on the Maumere Police office on Monday.

"The ban goes into effect as of early Tuesday until Thursday, to help restore security and order in the regency, especially in the town of Maumere," Capt. Longginus Leo, spokesman for the West Timor Military District, said in Kupang on Tuesday.

He explained that the ban was imposed to avoid a concentration of personnel from the two institution and to prevent them from provoking locals into open conflict.

"The provincial police chief and the military district chief have coordinated to restrict their men to their barracks so that no security personnel can leave their offices or barracks," he said.

Many people have criticized the ban, questioning who would be in charge of security and order, including handling traffic problems, if the police are restricted to their living quarters.

Three police officers suffered serious injuries when a number of soldiers and dozens of local people attacked the Maumere Police office early on Monday. The police office was also badly damaged.

Second Insp. Yehezkiel Tukan, First Insp. Eko Kurniawan and First Insp. Hendrik Fai are in intensive care at Maumere General Hospital with head and back injuries.

The attack followed the beating by several police personnel of Capt. Simon Iwi, chief of the Maumere military office, early on Sunday. Simon was beaten when trying to mediate in an argument between police personnel and a member of the Navy in the Flamboyan Restaurant in the town.

Jacky, who visited Maumere on Tuesday, called on security personnel to set a good example by accepting the ban and complying with the law.

"Security personnel should not take the law into their own hands because it is our main task to enforce the law, maintain security and order and protect the people. We must give a good example to win the people's trust in the military and police institutions," he said at a meeting with police personnel in Maumere.

He said the local police and the local military would set up a joint team to thoroughly investigate the incident.