ABC AUSTRALIA, 28/04/2004 17:21:58
Islamic militant warns of possible intervention in Ambon
An Islamic militant leader in Indonesia has threatened to send fighters to the eastern
region of Ambon if the government fails to prevent renewed sectarian violence there
from spreading.
The government has deployed hundreds of troops and police to Ambon island in
Maluku province since clashes between Muslim and Christian groups flared at the
weekend.
Latest reports say the situation is quiet, but tense.
However, the leader of the formerly disbanded Laskar Jihad group, Jaafar Umar Thalib,
says he is continuing to monitor developments and will intervene if necessary.
"We wait and the [if] government can't handle it and the riots spread... of course, I will
think and will jump again to help the unitary state of Indonesia," he said.
Laskar Jihad sent thousands of fighters to the Ambon region four years ago, inflaming
an existing sectarian conflict that cost up to 5,000 lives before a peace accord was
signed in 2002.
28/04/2004 17:21:58 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
