Violence rocks Maluku after week of calm
Violence rocks Maluku after week of calm
AMBON, Maluku (JP): A church in the Central Maluku regency
capital of Masohi was burned in a bomb blast as fresh violence
rocked the province on Tuesday.
The attack broke weeks of calm in Maluku after a year of
sectarian conflict which left thousands dead and displaced.
Witnesses said a group of people marched from Binaya market to
Zebaot Church at about 7:00 a.m. local time before a deafening
blast was heard in the church compound.
The house of a preacher located inside the compound was also
burned in the attack, local residents said.
"About 30 minutes later Christians flocked to the church and
were about to march to a nearby mosque, but security personnel
from Infantry Battalion 611 kept them at bay," a resident, who
requested anonymity, said.
He said the crowd clashed with the military troops, with a
youth identified as Emus Siahainemia sustaining a gunshot wound
to his chest. The young man is in critical condition, the witness
said.
Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela confirmed
the incident, saying he had ordered his troops to take stern
action against any attempt to provoke unrest.
Maluku Police spokesman Maj. Jekriel Philips also confirmed
the clash, but refused to speculate about which groups were
involved in the violence.
Another incident occurred on the island of Morotai, North
Maluku, early on Monday, leaving 32 houses and three churches
damaged. No fatalities were reported in the unrest.
The violence comes after military personnel seized 4,000
weapons from warring groups in Maluku. The weapons, including
homemade rifles and bombs, were dumped into the sea on Monday in
the latest effort to stop sectarian clashes in the province.
The Mina Raya 05 dumped the weapons seized during the Jan. 2
to Feb. 19 arms sweep into the waters of Tanjung Alang.
Tamaela, Governor Saleh Latuconsina, Maluku Police chief Brig.
Gen. I Dewa Astika and Muslim and Christian leaders were present
on board the ship.
The military chief said the event should mark the end of hard
feelings among Maluku residents.
"Please do not illegally assemble or make rifles which could
endanger other people's lives, or the law enforcers will take
action.
"These weapons are not evidence in criminal cases or anything.
We keep all evidence at the police station until the trials
begin," Tamaela said.
After the ceremony, Tamaela proceeded to Halong Naval base to
greet 600 new troops from the Brawijaya (East Java) and Jakarta
military commands. The new troops replace soldiers from the
Siliwangi (West Java) and Sriwijaya (South Sumatra) military
commands.
Some 15 battalions of security personnel have been sent to
Maluku to restore order there. (49/sur)