AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Friday November 2, 2001 1:01 PM
New violence kills three in riot-torn Indonesian spice islands
JAKARTA, Nov 2 (AFP) - Hundreds of armed attackers killed three villagers in the
latest violence to hit Indonesia's Maluku islands, which have been ravaged by almost
three years of violence between Muslims and Christians.
The group descended on the predominantly-Christian village of Waimulang on Buru
island on Thursday morning, killing three residents and burning down almost the
whole settlement, the Jakarta Post said Friday.
More than 1,000 residents fled to the jungle for safety and the fate of 13 military
officers who were in the village during the attack was unknown.
The largely barren island was used as a place of exile for political prisoners under the
32-year dictatorial Suharto regime.
It could not be reached by telephone.
Buru police chief Yopi Tutupari told authorities in the provincial capital Ambon by radio
that the attackers arrived in the coastal village in at least 14 boats and outnumbered
his men.
Troops have been sent to the island to remove the rioters, Maluku deputy governor
Paula Renyaan said.
Local leaders led by John Lestusa protested over the authorities' "sluggish" response
to the attack, the Post reported.
"More than 1,000 people are now hiding in jungles and cannot return home because
rioters occupied their village," he was quoted as saying.
Maluku, known as the Spice Islands during Dutch colonial rule, has been the scene of
clashes between the Muslim and Christian communities since January 1999.
Some 5,000 people have been killed and more than half-a-million driven from their
homes.
Copyright © 2001 AFP. All rights reserved.
|
