Support for Ambon martial law grows

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)