Two more bodies found in Ambon, death toll hits 21

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)