The Jakarta Post, September 10, 2002
Ambon police find military bullet cases at shooting site
Oktovianis Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon, Maluku
Police investigators have discovered standard military bullet cartridges at the site of a
gunfight that claimed three lives on Sunday.
Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko Danu Ardiyanto said on Monday that 20
cartridges of various standard military bullets were found at Kulur beach, Saparua
Island, Central Maluku almost immediately after the shooting.
The police, he said, discovered 7.1 millimeter caliber bullet cases from AK-47 rifles,
7.62 millimeter caliber cases from MK-3s, 6.5 millimeter caliber cases from gerens,
and 5.56 millimeter caliber cases from SS1s.
Soenarko, however, refused to speculate on the type of weapons used by the
assailants.
"I don't want to draw any conclusions yet on the weapons used as it has to be
investigated further even though the cartridges were of standard military issue," he
said.
Three civilians, identified as Miftaul Ulung, 28, Fitria Litiloli, 11, and Fatimah Tuhulele,
10, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Saparua, Central Maluku on Sunday,
triggering a bloody reprisal that killed one driver in Ambon town.
The situation in Ambon town was relatively normal on Monday. A celebration of
National Sports Day, which falls on Sept. 9, was organized at both the Maluku
Municipality Office and the Maluku Governor's Office.
"Up until today, no one has been detained in relation to the shooting," said Soenarko,
adding that the police were still hunting the culprits.
Soenarko said the shooting took place just 400 meters from a security post where the
Mobile Brigade police personnel were stationed.
"Upon hearing the shooting, Mobile Brigade members, assisted by local people, went
there immediately but could not arrest the assailants since they had fled into the
surrounding forest," he said.
Two explosions also rocked Ambon late Sunday but no damage or casualties were
reported.
In Jakarta, defense minister Matori Abdul Djalil said that the situation in Ambon did
not warrant the deployment of more troops.
"Security issues in conflict-torn areas, including Ambon, can be handled by existing
personnel," Matori was quoted by Antara as saying on Monday.
Ambon is still reeling from a bloody bombing on Sept. 5 which left four people dead,
including three high school girls, and seven injured.
The Maluku islands, of which Ambon is the main city, have been the scene of fighting
between Muslims and Christians which has left close to 10,000 dead since conflict
broke out in January 1999.
The latest violence could further undermine the fragile pact signed in February.
Ambon has seen intermittent violence since the peace pact was signed. At least 54
people were injured when homemade bombs exploded at an Ambon market on July
27.
Many have said that soldiers and police are taking sides in the conflict.
A state of civil emergency is in effect as part of efforts to halt the violence.
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