LAKSAMANA, April 26, 2002 02:52 PM
Stand Off in Ambon
Laksamana.Net - At least one soldier was injured in rioting that broke out in the city of
Ambon after Muslims massed after prayers Friday (26/4/01) in a new threat to hopes
for peace in the city, racked by insurgency for the past three years.
Thousands of Muslims took to the streets after prayers at Al Fatah mosque in a
protest led by members of the Laskar Jihad militia group were at a stand off with
police and troops, electronic media reported.
Indonesia had earlier flown two companies of mobile brigade (Brimob) police
reinforcements into Ambon.
A number of bombs were reported to have exploded in the city earlier Friday but there
were no reports of more casualties to add to the two wounded (corrects earlier) on
Thursday’s anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of South Maluku (RMS).
Two brimob companies flew to Ambon before dawn Friday to support security strength
on the ground after a tense day on Thursday when mobs demonstrated in a number of
areas and attempts were made to burn down the Silo church, still being rebuilt after a
successful arson attempt in 1999.
In Jakarta, Coordinating Minister for Security and Defense Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono was keeping a close eye on the position.
The Muslim crowd in Ambon protested the lack of action on the part of authorities to
stop the raising of RMS flags by groups of pro-separatism Christians.
Sources in Yudhoyono’s office regretted the actions by the RMS supporters in
raising temperatures once more in the city. Attempts were being made to persuade
the group to tone down its activities, the sources told satunet.com.
The Christian Crisis Center of Amboina said attempts Thursday to set fire to the Silo
church had been limited to scaffolding and there had been no major damage.
The Center said RMS flag raisings had also occurred on the islands of Seram,
Saparua and Haruku.
It added that Jafar Umar Thalib, leader of the feared Muslim militia group Laskar Jihad,
had arrived in Ambon Wednesday (24/4/02) and was urging Muslims by way of SPMM
radio, to make war on Christians.
Copyright © 2000 - 2002 Laksamana.net, All Rights Reserved.
|
