Support for Ambon martial law grows

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Violence continued to torment the riot- stricken Maluku capital of Ambon on Saturday as support grew for the imposition of martial law in the province.

The latest clashes in Talake and Galala subdistricts on Saturday left at least seven people dead and 20 injured, bringing the death toll in the conflict to 38.

Citing a statement by Dr. Haulussy General Hospital, residents living near the Indonesian Christian University of Maluku identified one of the dead as Rudy Tahalele.

Around 6,000 people, mostly women and children from the subdistricts of Halong, Galala, Poka and Rumah Tiga, have poured into the Halong Naval Base, 12 kilometers east of here, in panic since the new round of rioting began on Wednesday.

The violence prompted local Suara Maluku daily to move to Paso, six kilometers from Halong. The daily stopped its activities two days ago.

In Ambon port, KM Siguntang passenger vessel safely docked, although a group of unidentified armed people attacked it. The attackers apparently suspected the ship brought weapons and guns for their rivals.

Ambon was totally paralyzed as the two warring parties attacked each other with grenades and mortars. Heavy rain during the night was not enough to stop their actions, which continued late into Saturday night.

"Both sides have sent children and women to safer areas, while men stay to protect their properties," said a resident of Bata Merah subdistrict.

In Magelang, Central Java, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Admiral Widodo A.S. voiced support for the government to declare a state of emergency in Maluku and North Maluku provinces as violence remains rampant.

"Please do it," Widodo said in response to journalists' questions about the possibility of imposing martial law after inaugurating 616 young officers at Sapta Marga Stadium in Magelang, some 40 kilometers north of Yogyakarta.

Widodo reportedly discussed with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri in Yogyakarta overnight the military's proposal for a state of emergency in the two provinces in the Maluku islands.

Widodo said TNI would soon take tough measures to stop the widespread violence and would conduct door-to-door sweeping operations to confiscate unlicensed weapons.

He said local military authorities would set a deadline for armed people to voluntarily hand over their weapons to the military and police force, and shortly after that the seizure operation would be carried out.

"TNI will take stern measures in anticipating further developments. There will be also a concentration of troops in several riot-prone places to prevent clashes," Widodo noted.

The admiral's support for a state of emergency in ravaged provinces came just one day after President Abdurrahman Wahid announced the closure of the two provinces to outsiders due to escalating destruction there.

On Friday, Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra disclosed that the government would submit a revised State Security Bill to the House of Representatives on Monday.

Under the revised version, prior approval from the provincial council and local administration is required before the President can declare a state of emergency in a certain area. Permission must also be obtained from the House.

The President himself has repeatedly rejected the appeals of provincial authorities to impose a state of civil emergency to end sectarian clashes in the spice islands. But he declared a travel ban in Maluku on Friday.

Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. I Dewa Astika said on Saturday it would be difficult to block the rioters as some members of the security forces, both police and military, had taken sides with one of the warring camps.

"It is hard to carry out such a policy. In many cases rioters outnumber the troops and are armed with standard military weapons," he said.

Separately, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais warned the nation not to be trapped by the conflicts of ethnicity, religion and race.

"Muslims, Christians, Catholics, Hindus and Buddhists must be reminded to maintain tolerance toward each other," Amien said in Pekanbaru, Riau.

Amien urged TNI and the central government to take more strategic decisions in resolving the violence.

Meanwhile, North Maluku Legislative Council deputy speaker Abdulrahim Fabanyo called on the military to step up its monitoring of activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), especially its activities to help riot victims at Bethesda Tobelo Hospital in Halmahera.

Antara quoted Abdulrahim as suspecting the humanitarian agency of involvement in espionage on the pretext of humanitarian assistance.

Without elaborating, the legislator from the National Mandate Party deplored ICRC for rejecting the offer from a joint health team from military and the Ministry of Health, which is led by Maj. Bambang, to accompany ICRC in its activities at the hospital.

"They do not want the participation of security forces and government in treating riot victims," the official news agency quoted Abdulrahim as saying.

ICRC officials in Jakarta could not be reached for comment. (44/48/49/edt/prb)