Six people killed, 40 homes burned in Ambon clash

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Six people were killed, 25 others were injured and 40 homes were set on fire during a clash at daybreak on Friday.

The fatalities were identified as La Hasan, 45, Johari, 40, Ludwig Samloy, 22, and David Paliama, 16, who died of gunshot wounds, Ambon Police chief Lt. Col. Ghufron said.

Two others were Souisa, 70, and his wife who died in the fire in the Tantui area. The bodies were brought to the local church.

The injured, who suffered both minor and serious wounds and included two security personnel, were taken to the Navy Hospital and Al Fatah Hospital in the Maluku capital. A volunteer at Al Fatah, Hari, said one unidentified man and seven others who sustained gunshot wounds were admitted to the hospital at 7 a.m.

Among the wounded at the Navy hospital was Hermin Lespata, 40, who sustained a shot wound to her head, a hospital staff said.

A fire continued into the early evening in the residential area of Kampung Java, Tantui. A fire engine, accompanied by security personnel, entered the predominantly Christian area earlier in the day.

"Firefighters also face the risk of being killed," a resident said.

Crowds who gathered at several sites, including the Batumerah residential area and near the Silo church, were dispersed by security personnel.

Residents of Galunggung, Kebun Cengkih and Batumerah attacked the area beginning at 5:30 a.m., witnesses said.

Ghufron declined to respond to residents' allegations that security personnel from the artillery and combat units also shot at their homes. A member of the police mobile brigade unit, identified as Suratman, was reportedly arrested for opening fire on residents.

"This (shooting directed at residents) has happened several times," a resident who lost his home said.

Muslims and Christians have accused security personnel of bias in handling the sectarian strife.

About 450 people have died in communal clashes since January. Tens of thousands of residents have fled Maluku and hundreds of families remain in shelters in Ambon.

According to police data, 1,358 houses have been burnt or damaged. Other losses include 194 stores, a bank, a government building, four schools, seven offices, five mosques and six churches.

In a statement sent to The Jakarta Post on Friday, the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) again appealed for international help. The Protestant organization said the government and the Indonesian Military had failed to stop the violence in the province.

It said indications from a number of recent clashes reinforced speculation that civilians were carrying automatic firearms.

PGI feared the continuing violence would lead to Ambon's isolation. "If sea and air transportation are disrupted it is likely that communication from and to Ambon will be isolated."

Commercial airline services to the area have been temporarily stopped. Passenger ships now dock at the Navy port due to safety concerns. (48/anr/ylt)