Soldier killed in fresh violence in Ambon

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)