The Jakarta Post, 4/28/2002 4:12:17 PM
Military spokesman denies TNI involvement in Soya incident
JAKARTA (JP): Perpetrators of the aggression at dawn on Sunday against Soya
village in Sirimau subdistrict, Ambon mayoralty, Maluku province, which claimed at
least 12 lives, were not members of the Indonesian Military (TNI), according to a
localmilitary spokesman.
"The people should understand that any rioter could use TNI uniform. Such an act is
an attempt to discredit the TNI," chief of the information department of the Pattimura
Military Commandoverseeing Maluku and North Maluku provinces Maj. Herry Suhardy
said in Ambon, as quoted by Antara on Sunday.
The dawn assault against Soya village reportedly killed at least 12 people, injured 11
others, and burnt 20 houses and one house of worship.
Some local people, who were suspicious of TNI members' involvement in the attack,
initially turned down assistance from the troops, who were deployed to chase the
rioters.
On efforts to deal with the attackers, Suhardy said the military command had now
deployed troops to sweep the area
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