Three civilians shot dead in Sorong clash

Three civilians shot dead in Sorong clash

SORONG, Irian Jaya (JP): Three civilians were killed and nine
others injured during a clash between supporters of the pro-
independence movement and police officers on Tuesday.

Official sources said that 38 civilians have been detained
following the incident. Among the injured were four police
officers.

The dead were identified as Mesak Imbir, (30), Isai Imbir,
(26), and Obaja Imbir (22). They were brothers.

A nurse at the Sorong state hospital, Albertina, said that no
relatives had claimed the three bodies as yet.

Some of the detained civilians said that the disturbance began
when a group of people from the North Waigeo Islands hoisted the
Independent Papua Movement's Morning Star flag in the grounds of
the Immanuel Church in Boswesen on Tuesday morning.

The Waigeo Islands are located north of Sorong.

About 100 people from Waigeo led by Mesak Imbir were supposed
to arrive in Sorong on Aug. 17 on four boats, for the purpose of
disrupting the commemoration of Indonesia's Independence Day.

However, they only arrived on Monday due to bad weather.

They hoisted the Morning Star flag at 5:00 a.m. local time on
Tuesday in front of the church, witnesses said. "They were armed
with swords, arrows and spears."

It was the minister of the church, the Rev. F. Mambrasar, who
reported the hoisting of the separatist flag, which has been
banned by Jakarta, to the local police.

Three trucks loaded with policemen arrived at the scene at
around 8:30 a.m. to disperse the group. However, they immediately
came under attack. Four policemen were seriously injured and this
apparently aroused the officers' anger.

The policemen then shot at the flag pole and the wall of the
church grounds in retaliation.

Deputy chief of the Irian Jaya Police Supt. M. Thamrin
Simanjuntak confirmed the deadly incident.

Hours later the situation was under control. Locals said they
were aware that the clash was due to the actions of 60 people
from the Waigeo islands.

The Institute for Study and Rights Advocacy in Papua (ELS-HAM)
claimed that 12 civilians were injured during the disturbances.
They were Suryanto (shot in the back of the head), Aleks Mambrisu
(shot in the right thigh), Yulis Mayor (shot in the stomach and
legs), Marten Morin (assaulted by officers), Haler Imbir (shot in
the right leg), Salmon Rumbarak (shot in the stomach), Ekonia
Imbir (shot in the hand), an unidentified woman (shot in the
shoulder), as well as Thobias Mayor, Gabriel Rumbarak, Yustin
Imbri and another unidentified Papuan.

Ferry

Meanwhile, officials and rescue workers confirmed on Tuesday
that the KM Supera I ferry carrying 60 people from Ruba-Ruba
village, Loloda district, North Halmahera, in ravaged North
Maluku had been found after reportedly being missing for two
days.

Col. Max Besouw, commanding officer of the Bitung Naval Base,
told the media that all the people on board were safe.

The vessel, carrying 40 civilians, 10 policemen and 10
crewmen, sailed on Saturday from Halmahera island for Bitung
port. It went missing after experiencing engine trouble in rough
seas on Sunday.

"It had been adrift for two days before a tanker towed it to
Tagulandang in Sangihe Talaud waters. They will arrive in Manado
on Wednesday," Soleman, a rescue official in Manado, the capital
of North Sulawesi, said.

In the restive Maluku capital of Ambon, the civil emergency
administration stepped up reconciliation efforts by organizing
visits to the strongholds of the opposing factions.

Governor Saleh Latuconsina and Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen.
Firman Gani visited the predominantly Muslim Jasirah Leihitu
district, 25 kilometers north of Ambon, and met with local
community and religious leaders there.

Jasirah Leihitu is known as the stronghold of local Muslim
"warriors" who live in the villages of Hitu, Mamala, Morela,
Wakal, Hila, Kaitetu, Negri Lima and Asilulu.

Similar visits to Christian strongholds were made on Monday.

On Wednesday, both Latuconsina and Firman will visit another
Muslim village, namely Tulehu in Salahutu district, 28 kilometers
south of Ambon. Tulehu is known to be the base of the Laskar
Jihad forces which have reportedly attacked neighboring Waai
village three times earlier this month.

"With these visits we want to raise people's awareness that
this is basically not a religious war. They have been manipulated
and torn apart by certain members of the elite," Firman said.

On Thursday, National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo is
scheduled to visit police officers posted in Ambon, Firman added.

Along with the reconciliation moves, the local authorities
began a major operation to check ID cards. Governor Latuconsina
said that the operation was part of the efforts to minimize
conflict in the province. (27/34/48/49/edt/sur)