Tensions still shroud Ambon

Tensions still shroud Ambon

JAKARTA (JP): Tensions continued to shroud the riot-torn
Maluku capital of Ambon on Tuesday following the discovery of the
bodies of a man and a woman with stab wounds, while there were
rumors circulating that Muslims were gearing up for a protest.

Maluku Police spokesman Maj. Jekriel Philip told The Jakarta
Post by phone from the Ambon headquarters that the two were
identified as Marlen Sitanala and Lukas Paliama.

"They were attacked on Monday night and found in the
Galunggung area this morning," Jekriel said.

Noya Sileo Bistos at the Maranatha riot monitoring post told
the Post that Marlen, 30, was a lecturer of the local Pattimura
University Law School.

Witnesses said the city was tense as both Muslims and
Christians set up roadblocks in their neighborhoods, checking
passing vehicles in anticipation of the eruption of renewed
violence.

"We heard that Muslims were to stage a protest against
Monday's incident in Ahuru, but so far we have not seen any signs
of this," Noya said.

Reports on Tuesday indicated that a number of Muslims were
shot dead by police officers during sectarian clashes in Ahuru.

Some reports circulated to the effect that a number of people
were shot at dawn prayers inside a mosque in Ahuru early on
Monday.

Jekriel, however, denied the media reports, saying the two
people killed in these clashes were about 100 meters away from
the Muhajirin Mosque. Their bodies were later taken to the
mosque.

"We will hold a press conference for local journalists here
Tuesday afternoon to clarify the matter," Jekriel said.

He also said that one battalion of Marines from Surabaya, East
Java, was scheduled to arrive in Ambon on Tuesday afternoon to
reinforce about 1,000 troops from the Army's Strategic Reserve
Command (Kostrad) and the police elite Mobile Brigade already
stationed in the city.

Spokesman for the National Police, Brig. Gen. Togar Sianipar,
said in a statement on Tuesday that a number of people taking
refuge at the Muhajirin Mosque had reported seeing drops of blood
in the mosque.

"Rumors then spread that the victims were shot by security
personnel during their dawn prayers," Togar said in a press
statement on Tuesday

The police insisted media reports that the shooting took place
when Muslims were at prayer were inaccurate.

Police said about 200 people from Ahuru armed with petrol
bombs, arrows, machetes and knives attacked nearby Rinjani
village early on Monday.

"A group of 10 police and troops were deployed to the area to
control the riot," the police said.

Police said at least two people were killed and three more
injured after security personnel opened fire to disperse the
crowd in Ahuru on Monday.

Police said that local military leaders have handed over two
police personnel, Sgt. Maj. Benny Tutumutu and First Sgt. Anwar,
and an army soldier, First Sgt. Simamora, to the military police
for questioning.

Military police have also been questioning another witness,
Ahmad Leti, the statement said.

Police said that at least five people were killed in a number
of clashes in Ambon on Monday. They were identified as Armin
Fa'ani, Mul Ikhrom, Husain bin Umar, Usman Wakano and John
Deparlila.

Police said seven more people were also injured in Monday's
clashes. These were identified as Zulkifli bin Umar, Dullah
Wabnebu, Kadir Pellu, Mat Rery, David Kastanya, Pieter Malauw and
Berty Latumeten.

A staffer at the Bhayangkara Hospital said on Monday that
Berty's left hand was chopped off and his attackers took it away
with them.

Police also said a mosque and 26 houses were set on fire in
Ahuru on Monday.

At least 23 people have been confirmed killed in the renewed
Muslim-Christian clashes which broke out on Feb. 23 in downtown
Batu Merah village.

Thousands of people have taken refuge in mosques, churches,
military installations and other government buildings in Ambon
while thousands of others have fled the city on ships for their
hometowns in Southeast Sulawesi and South Sulawesi.

About 500 people arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta seaport in the
South Sulawesi capital of Ujungpandang on Tuesday under tight
military escort.

Authorities have said that more than 150 people have been
killed and more than 350 others injured since the Muslim-
Christian clashes erupted in the province in mid-January.

They also said that about 3,360 houses have been set on fire
in the weeks of violence which have brought on about Rp 500
billion in material losses.

The violence was initially sparked by a dispute between a
Muslim migrant and a local Christian driver of a public minibus
on Jan. 19.

It then quickly degenerated into full-scale rioting pitting
members of the two communities against one another.(byg/emf/27)