Thousands seek refuge in riot-torn Ambon

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of people have sought refuge in mosques and churches from the escalating Muslim and Christian clashes in the Maluku capital of Ambon, where at least 16 people have been killed in the past three days, witnesses and hospital staff said on Thursday.

Another report put the death toll at 24.

"We have about 3,000 people here and we estimate that more people will still be coming," Muhammad Nur Weno, a Muslim activist at the downtown Al Fattah Mosque, told The Jakarta Post by phone.

He said many of the refugees planned to leave the riot-torn city for their hometowns in Southeast Sulawesi and South Sulawesi within a couple of days.

Hundreds of people have also taken refuge in the nearby Silo Church after the latest violence between Muslims and Christians broke out in Batu Merah village on Tuesday.

"Their houses have been burned down in the latest violence but we also have people who are fleeing their houses for fear of further unrest," Reverend Liang told the Post.

Liang said a number of Christian families had fled to their relatives living in the mountainous area of Kusu Kusu Sereh near Ambon.

Sgt. Maj. Angki, a staff member at the police's Bhayangkara Hospital in Ambon said at least 15 people had been killed in the three-day violence.

"The (figure is) only those who have been recovered and identified by the authorities," Angki said, adding that three of the bodies were brought to the hospital from the Maluku Protestant Church Hospital on Wednesday.

He said most of the victims died from gunshot wounds and slash wounds.

Angki also said at least 43 people had been admitted to the hospital with injuries from the violence ranging from serious to minor.

Nurse Sandra at the Bakti Rahayu hospital told the Post that one more man, who was identified as Salmon Taurisa, died from a gunshot wound to his head on Thursday.

She also said at least four people with gunshot wounds were still being treated at the hospital.

Mintaihutu, a staff member at the emergency ward of the Haulusi General Hospital in Ambon, said that at least 15 people injured in the clashes were still being treated at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Antara reported that sporadic clashes were still taking place in a number of places in the city on Thursday. It put the death toll at 24.

The news agency said six more bodies had been found at Batu Merah, Ahuru and Soabali early on Thursday.

It also said a series of bomb explosions and warning shots were heard since early Thursday.

Antara added that two police helicopters were seen patrolling over the city, while military vehicles were seen evacuating bodies and injured people to hospitals.

"The city is like a ghost town, as streets are deserted, public transportation is not operating," Liang said, adding that shops, offices and schools remained closed on Thursday.

Residents said mobs armed with machetes, spears, and bows and arrows could still be seen in the streets despite local officials' repeated appeals on Wednesday that residents lay down their weapons.

The news agency said security personnel had fired warning shots in their attempts to disarm residents.

"The city is still very tense as there are reports of fresh Christian attacks on Muslim villagers in Batu Merah, Ahuru and Galunggung," Weno told the Post from the mosque.

Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina was quoted by Antara as saying on Thursday that security personnel will take firm action against the rioters as residents seemed to be ignoring peaceful efforts to end the prolonged violence in the city.

"If the reinforcement troops we have requested earlier arrive in Ambon, firm action will be taken to end this bloody incident and shoot-on-sight orders will be also put in place," Saleh was quoted as saying.

The news agency quoted Maluku Police chief Col. Karyono as saying that the request, which included a proposal to have a Super Puma helicopter sent in, has been approved by Armed Forces (ABRI) leaders.

"We badly need back-up troops and the helicopter to cover the 851,000 square kilometers area with some 1,027 islands," Karyono was quoted as saying.

The authorities said 142 people had been killed and more than 350 others were injured since the religious clashes erupted in the province in mid-January.

Official figures say 3,360 houses were set on fire in the weeks of violence which caused 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, the first day of the Muslim Idul Fitri holiday.

Shortly after members of both communities were involved in full-scale riots. (byg)