Soldier killed in fresh violence in Ambon

AMBON, Maluku (JP): A trail of fresh violence continued to rock Ambon, leaving at least one soldier killed and four people injured, including one serviceman, officials said on Tuesday.

Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa confirmed the death of Pvt. Ihwantoro of the 141st Sriwijaya Infantry Battalion who was shot in the head during an ambush in Hunuth village, about 15 kilometers north of Ambon on Monday at about 2:30 p.m. local time.

"The remains of Pvt. Ihwantoro have been transported back to Palembang, South Sumatra, today (Tuesday)," Yasa said, adding that another officer, First Sgt. Dodi, also suffered a gunshot wound to his back in the fray and was being treated at Dr. Latumeten Army Hospital.

Both officers were escorting a fuel truck belonging to PT Makara when a group of gunmen suddenly sprayed bullets at them, Yasa said.

"The shots reportedly came from the hill which was under the supervision of Armed XIII (Artillery Unit) Brawijaya.

"I've called the platoon and related company commanders and they said the two officers were acting off duty. But it is likely that other 'errant' officers did the shooting," Yasa said, adding that he already had details of the sharp shooters operating in Ambon and that an operation to arrest them was underway.

Separately, on the shore of the Rumah Tiga area, at about the same time on Monday, gunmen opened fire at a passing speedboat in the waters off Teluk Ambon Baguala, leaving three people injured.

Two female victims, identified as Mien Alfons, 46, Mince Salamoni, 34, and the speedboat driver, Sammy Samalo, 25, suffered severe gunshot wounds and were rushed to Halong Naval Hospital.

Following the shooting, Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina ordered the security forces to tighten their control over Maluku waters.

Meanwhile, reports from the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar said on Tuesday that 53 employees of the Ambon telecommunications office, along with their families, had left Ambon for Makassar.

Sources at the PT Telkom office in Makassar said that "the refugees" had been flocking to Makassar for about a month.

The sources said that another 38 Telkom employees of the Poso, Central Sulawesi, office had also gone to Makassar for safety.

"All 91 employees, with their families, are being housed at the local Telkom dormitory and the Taman Marannu hotel in Makassar," head of Telkom's Makassar office Koesprawoto said.

"We are providing each family with between Rp 20,000 and Rp 30,000 per day. It is an extra burden to the company, but we will keep helping them until an official decision from Jakarta on their fate is handed down," Koesprawoto said. "Many of them are still traumatized."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Makassar office said that telecommunication services in the riot-hit cities of Ambon and Poso were normal. (49/27/edt/sur)