Three villages in Ambon set on fire

Three villages in Ambon set on fire

AMBON, Maluku (JP): State Pattimura University and three
surrounding villages were set on fire by armed attackers as
violence intensified here on Tuesday.

Hundreds of houses and four churches went up in flames.

No immediate casualties were reported in the violence, which
broke out in the predominantly-Christian villages of Poka,
Rumahtiga and Wailela early on Monday and continued through
Tuesday.

Halong Naval Hospital director Nelson Pandaleke said at least
one people died and 12 others were injured in the rioting, and
added that the number of victims was likely to increase.

The disputed area housed the 30-hectare campus of Pattimura
University, the most prestigious university in Maluku.

Numbering in the thousands, armed attackers descended from the
predominantly-Muslim Jasirah Leihitu, Batu Merah and Galunggung
areas. They attacked the villages from three directions from 5
a.m. local time.

At about 10 a.m., the armed rioters forced their way onto the
Pattimura University campus and started firing mortars and bombs.

"No troops were available when the rioters arrived. They just
kept on ransacking and destroying the villages and sprayed
bullets everywhere," Robert, a survivor from Poka, said.

"They burned everything," he said.

Rioters were seen busily traversing the Ambon waters to their
base in Waehaong, while a nearby patrol ship apparently did
nothing.

Fire ravaged buildings along a one-kilometer route at the foot
of the Wailela hills to Poka and Rumahtiga late on Monday,
leaving a bright yellow reflection on the waters off Teluk Ambon
Baguala.

No fire engines were available as most emergency vehicles were
vandalized or destroyed in previous riots.

Thick smoke covered Ambon's skies, as thousands of refugees,
mostly women and children, sought refuge on the southern shore of
Ambon in nearby Galala, Halong, Lateri and Paso subdistricts.

Some sought shelter at Pattimura Military's Zeni battalion
base in Rumahtiga, which was among the few buildings in the area
left standing.

Witnesses said the university was destroyed by fire at about
9:30 p.m. local time. The main building, administration office,
the library and schools of law, social and political sciences,
economics, forestry, agriculture, engineering, a laboratory, a
gymnasium, the Bethesda Church, which was built during Dutch
colonial era, and a Catholic church were all destroyed.

Most of the buildings destroyed in the fire were new.

Each building was said to cost the local government between Rp
10 billion and Rp 20 billion. As of 9 p.m. local time the raging
blaze also gutted Poka ferry port, fish market and sea research
office.

Tuesday's incident was likely the worst since the imposition
of a state of civil emergency last week. It was a continuation of
similar armed mob attacks on the area which began on Saturday and
has claimed at least five lives, or an overall of 76 since the
violence resurfaced in Ambon in May.

A polytechnic school belonging to Pattimura University was
burned down in a previous riot.

Governor Saleh Latuconsina could not hide his disappointment
over the incident. Instead of commenting, he told journalists to
ask new Pattimura Military chief Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa about the
latest handling of riots.

"I am very concerned and deeply regret the incident. I'm lost
for words. Please check with the Pattimura Military chief about
this," Latuconsina said after an abrupt briefing at his office at
noon on Monday.

Rumors have been circulating here that Latuconsina will be
replaced by Maj. Gen. (ret) Dunidja, former acting governor of
West Sumatra and Trikora Military commander.

President Abdurrahman Wahid hinted earlier this year that
Latuconsina and Maluku Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela
could be replaced. The latter relinquished his post last week and
has been given a new post in Jakarta.

I Made Yasa, who has just been promoted, acknowledged that the
rioters outnumbered the security forces and they were also armed
with standard military weapons.

"I'm going to directly lead the troops to the disputed areas.
Please do not ask questions now.. Security forces are being
deployed especially to defend the diesel-powered electricity
station near Poka area. We're doing the best we can here," Yasa
said. (49/48/edt/sur)