Violence erupts anew in Maluku islands

AMBON, Maluku (JP): After a period of relative calm, violence briefly resurfaced in the Maluku islands over the weekend, killing at least four people.

The latest outbreak of violence took place on Sunday when armed mobs attacked Wahai village in North Seram district at around 10 a.m., killing a local named Melly Wenno.

Wahai Police chief First Insp. Adam confirmed the attack late Sunday night.

"There were dozens of houses gutted by fire during the raid. We haven't been able to calculate the losses but a platoon from the Yonif 731 battalion has been deployed to the area to curb further violence," Adam said, adding that four people were also injured.

The violence comes less than 48 hours after the Indonesian Military announced that the 17 battalions currently based in the province would be reduced to four by February.

In Ambon itself, as of 11 p.m. local time Sunday, joint military and police forces were still reportedly involved in gunfights with armed rioters on the border between the Batu Merah - Mardika and Pos Kota area.

No immediate casualties were reported.

But, in previous gunfights between armed mobs and security forces that lasted from Friday to Saturday, at least three people were killed and scores of others injured, an official said.

Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa confirmed the deaths earlier on Saturday and identified the fatalities as Ruslan, Hasan and Yudi.

"Signals of conflict emerged around 5 p.m. local time on Friday when a public minivan passing through Liang village was shot at by unidentified gunmen. Three people were also injured in the incident," Yasa said.

"The mobs started to gather in Waai, which is odd since the village has been long deserted by its inhabitants as it was completely gutted in an incident on July 6."

"So where did the mobs come from? Gunmen also fired at the marine posts in Batu Merah - Mardika and in Pohon Pule around 11 p.m. on Friday," he said.

Following the incidents, the mobs went on a rampage and gunfights were unavoidable, Yasa said.

"We conducted a joint security forces sweep in the Batu Merah - Mardika area and managed to catch four rioters and seized a revolver, a gun, two bombs and ammunition for an M-16," he said adding that among the four was provincial council member Darul Kutni Tuhepali of the United Development Party (PPP).

"The four are being detained by Ambon Police. As long as the rioters keep on shooting, we will take firm measures," Yasa warned. (49/edt)