Situation in Maumere remains tense

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.