Two die as clash breaks out in Maluku's Saparua island

Two die as clash breaks out in Maluku's Saparua island

AMBON, Maluku (JP): A community clash broke out in Saparua
island, Maluku, on Thursday, leaving two people dead and four
others injured.

At least 40 houses in the predominantly Christian Siri Sori
Kristen village were burned down during the clash by residents of
the predominantly Muslim neighboring village of Siri Sori Islam.

Governor Saleh Latuconsina confirmed the clash and said that
reinforcements would be sent in.

Thursday's incident followed a series of attacks in the past
few days between residents of Ulath village and Siri Sori Islam.
Siri Sori Islam village is situated between Ulath village to its
left and Siri Sori Kristen village to its right.

Earlier, on Wednesday, a clash claimed the lives of four
residents and injured others.

Two companies, or about 200 troops, of the National Police's
Mobile Brigade (Brimob) were deployed to the disputed area and
managed to restore security in the area.

In a separate development, a joint police-military battalion
arrested three Maluku Police officers on Wednesday for their
alleged participation in a shooting incident involving the KM
Anda II passenger ship in the waters off Dalam Bay the day
before.

Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani said the police
would take stern measures against the three if they were proven
guilty.

"It's a fatal violation for a security officer to get involved
in a murder or a theft case, or for his or her failure to ensure
public safety," he said.

Firman, however, refused to name the three officers.

The latest data on the victims of the Tuesday's incident
reveal that three passengers died and 15 others were injured.

Firman said the police would meticulously investigate their
(the officers') roles in the shootings and initially question
them as witnesses.

"If there are indications that the three were involved, we
will name them as suspects," he said.

"In our preliminary questioning, the three had strong alibis
indicating they weren't involved in the shootings," he added.

The arrest triggered a mass protest in Batumerah, Ambon, on
Wednesday, demanding that the three be released immediately,
despite prior agreement among the residents that the matter be
resolved at the city's Civil Emergency Post.

One soldier was reportedly injured in the protest.

Separately, the Sea Security Task Force of the Eastern
Indonesian Navy Fleet Commodore Djoko Sumarjono called on the
public on Wednesday to immediately inform the security
authorities should they have any information concerning Tuesday's
attack.

He said the public's active participation was needed to help
the authorities to take stern action against the assailants.

"We'll gun down the speedboats they use in the attacks," he
said.

Djoko was responding to the increasing public demand that the
authorities arrest the perpetrators and seize the speedboats to
prevent them from operating in the area again.

"We will put all of our efforts into securing the Ambon
waters," he added. (49/lup)