Three injured in Central Maluku clashes

JAKARTA (JP): Communal clashes in Central Maluku on Monday left three injured and at least 12 houses set ablaze, Antara reported from Ambon.

The unrest occurred from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Salahutu district as a crowd from Tengah-Tengah village attacked Suli.

The injured were identified as Lukas Suitella, Alex Leiwakabessy and Maris Alputilla.

Suli residents accused security personnel of bias.

"In the beginning there were no houses burned. But security personnel fired on the crowds from Suli so it was easier for attackers to set homes on fire," a resident told the news agency.

He questioned the shoot-on-sight order for attackers, issued by Trikora Regional Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela and the Maluku Police chief Col. Bugis Saman.

Security personnel finally stopped the riot but residents feared their attackers would return.

The news agency also reported that mobs vandalized a high school and a senior high school in Laha village, Baguala district, near Pattimura Airport.

They also looted the schools.

Local residents charged that security personnel did not attempt to halt the violence.

Bugis Saman could not be reached for confirmation, the agency said.

Throughout the province people remained tense as rumors of further unrest were passed among a population increasingly distrustful of local authorities.

A Jakarta-based activist from the Maluku Islam Front (FIM), Faizal Assegaf, told The Jakarta Post that the group demanded the replacement of Maluku Police chief Col. Bugis Saman and Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaella.

"We need security leaders from outside the province, either from Ujungpandang or Java," Faizal, the group's coordinator, said. The group was established about a month after violence between Christians and Muslims first erupted in the province in January.

Both Christians and Muslims in Maluku have accused security personnel of being biased against them.

Security personnel are continuing to confiscate arms from civilians in an attempt to prevent further violence.

Fifty men disembarking from a vessel were found on Saturday "to be carrying homemade fire arms and 10 had slingshots", Capt. AG Sugiono said at the port where the KKM Siguntang was docked. (anr/06)