The Jakarta Post, March 06, 2006
Tension intensifies in Ambon city
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Peace was shattered in conflict-torn Ambon in Maluku province when a soldier was
stabbed to death Saturday and in a separate incident, a student was seriously injured
when the police allegedly shot into a crowd of people.
Both in! cidents took place following tension between the police and military personnel
in Ambon after the death of Second Brig. Arnold R. Wakolo who was stabbed to death
by eight unidentified people outside a restaurant Friday night. Wakolo, who carried a
rifle on his back, could do little to repel the attackers and died on the way to the
hospital.
On Saturday, a military personnel, Second Brig. I Putu Haryanto, was stabbed to
death and died on the spot. His body was flown to his family in Bali Saturday.
Following the two incidents, tension heated up in Ambon, with both police officers and
military personnel, all carrying firearms, traveling in groups.
"This is the first time I have seen traffic police carrying guns since I have worked as a
motorcycle taxi driver," Saiful Mahu, 31, told The Jakarta Post on S! unday.
According to chief of Maluku Police, Brig. Gen. Adityawarman, the tension was
triggered by previous act when a military personnel from Pattimura command was hit
by a police officer when passing on a motorcycle outside the police paramilitary unit
headquarters in Tantui, Ambon on Thursday.
"This was then followed by the stabbing incident and it went on. The police officer who
started this will be given a severe sanction," Adityawarman said Sunday.
Separately, chief of Pattimura military command, Maj. Gen. Syarifudin Summah,
deplored the conflict between his personnel and the police. "I've coordinated with the
police chief since the Tantui case and we've been conducting joint patrols since
Friday night," he said.
The situation made many resid! ents decide to stay inside at night after widespread
rumors that there were road blocks at several points close to the military and the
police areas.
The situation worsened when police officers allegedly shot into a crowd in Batumerah
village in Sirimau district Saturday night, injuring 21-year-old Saiful Wakano.
The student of Pattimura University School of Engineering, who was on his way home
after doing his homework, was taken to Al-Muqadam hospital for treatment to remove
a bullet that passed through his back and into his stomach.
"I didn't know what was going on. I had just finished my homework. I stopped when I
saw the crowd but suddenly, police cars showed up and (the officers) shot at us,"
Saiful said at the hospital, saying the car stopped some 35 meters away from the
crowd and some 10 police of! fices got out of the cars.
"We heard the first shot, maybe it was a warning shot," Saifudin Japsuha, 24, a
Batumerah resident who was at the site, told the Post.
When the crowd did not immediately disperse, the police officers walked toward the
people who ran in panic. At the same time, he said he heard repeated shots. "Maybe
some of those shots hit one of our residents," Saifudin said.
Saiful's family asked the authorities to find the shooter and punish him, urging both
the military and the police to solve their conflict to prevent more civilian victims.
"The military and police should protect people, not create problems," said Saiful's
uncle Abidin Wakano.
"The conflict between ! the two institutions has caused anxiety among the people, at
a time when people's lives had returned to normal after years of conflict. The conflict
could disrupt recovery and reconciliation," he said.
Chief of Ambon and Lease Islands Police, Adj. Sr. Comr. Leonidas Braksan, said the
police would be responsible for the case and find those responsible and would pay for
Saiful's medical treatment.
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