Two more bodies found in Ambon, death toll hits 21

JAKARTA (JP): Two bodies with stab wounds were discovered on Friday at Yos Sudarso port and two people died in an intervillage clash on Thursday, raising the death toll in Ambon this week to 21.

A military spokesman reported earlier 15 people had been killed by Wednesday. This figure rose after a man died late Wednesday of gunshot wounds and a body was found by residents on Thursday.

The bodies discovered at the port were taken to Perigi Lama Police Hospital and had yet to be identified.

Military and church sources said on Friday the intervillage clash involved thousands of residents from the predominantly Christian Wai village and the predominantly Muslim villages of Tulehu and Liang, east of downtown Ambon.

"The two killed were Simon Tio and Poli Pakarpessy," a source at the Maranatha coordination post told The Jakarta Post.

Such posts were established after violence in the province erupted in January, killing 300 people and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes.

A spokesman at the military command confirmed that two people died in the clash, but would not reveal their identities.

The Maluku capital of Ambon remained tense on Friday and businesses were closed. A few public transportation vehicles were seen but there were few people on the streets, residents said.

Witnesses said a resident was stabbed on Friday in Ambon Plaza and was taken to the hospital. It was unclear if the stabbing was linked to the unrest.

Dozens of shops in Ambon belonging to ethnic Chinese were set on fire earlier in the week, including wholesale stores. Ethnic Chinese businesspeople met on Friday with authorities, requesting a security guarantee.

"We will not leave Ambon; we will continue our businesses here as long as it is safe," one of them said.

Meanwhile, none of the 35 people arrested since the violence erupted last weekend had been released.

Thousands of Muslim and Christian residents in the province are still living in refugee centers.

Many people want vengeance for murdered relatives and destroyed property, and refugees are among those pelting stones at public transportation vehicles, a resident said.

Meanwhile, TVRI television station quoted authorities as saying that all residents were to hand in their weapons by Aug. 5. (48/anr)