Three killed, 35 houses burned in Maluku brawl

Three killed, 35 houses burned in Maluku brawl

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Ambon

At least three people were killed, 12 others injured and 35
houses set ablaze in a brawl between two Christian villages on
Saparua island, Central Maluku, police said on Thursday.

The clash broke out on Wednesday night between residents of
Porto and Haria villages. The violence had apparently nothing to
do with the sectarian fighting that has claimed some 6,000 lives
over the last three years in the Maluku islands.

According to Maluku's Control and Operations Command Center
(Puskodalops), the brawl was suspected to have been motivated by
bad blood between the two villages following a feud on Mar. 30
that arose after a rowing competition to mark Easter.

The province's police deployed two platoons made up of a total
of 200 Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel to bring the situation
under control.

Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko came to the scene on
Thursday to help calm the feuding residents.

Two residents from Haria -- Herman Leuwol and Edwin Waeleuru
-- died from gunshot wounds to the chest, while a resident of
Porto, Yopi Talakua, was also killed during the gunfight.

In Jakarta, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the
feuding villagers from the Christian community had employed
illegal firearms and explosives.

Separately on Thursday, Coordinating Minister for Political
and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the Maluku
civil emergency authorities would intensify the search for
offensive weapons and would resort to force if local people
refused to surrender their weapons before the May deadline.

"Although the Saparua incident was not a sectarian one, if we
don't take immediate action it could complicate the situation in
Maluku," he said.

Susilo said the government was determined to see the peace
deal signed by local Muslim and Christian leaders to end three
years of fighting in Maluku succeed.

The authorities would take harsh action against anyone found
inciting more violence aimed at overturning the peace accord,
which was signed on Feb. 12, he added.

"As long as the Maluku people keep holding their weapons and
continue to protect provocateurs, long-lasting peace in the
islands will still be a long way off," Susilo said.

Last week, at least seven people were killed and 50 others
injured in a powerful bomb blast that rocked Ambon. The bombing
sparked the burning down of the Maluku governor's office by an
angry mob.

The police are currently hunting Ibdi Amin Thabrani Pattimura
and Zafruddin, both suspected of lobbing the bomb at the Amboina
Hotel on Apr. 3.

Commenting on reports that the separatist South Maluku
Republic (RMS) movement would declare independence in the
troubled province by hoisting their flag on Apr. 25, Susilo and
Da'i said that security officials would take stern action against
them.

"Should they carry out this plan, we will certainly take all
necessary action permitted by the law to stop such separatist
activities," Da'i said.