LAKSAMANA.Net, May 22, 2004 01:06 AM
Bombs Seized on Eve of Mega's Ambon Visit
Laksamana.Net - Mobile Brigade (Brimob) paramilitary police have arrested two men
in possession of home-made bombs in Ambon, the capital of the Maluku province, on
the eve of a visit by President Megawati Sukarnoputri to the troubled city.
Detikcom online news portal reported the two men were arrested Friday (21/5/04)
afternoon in the city's Talake area, which was the scene of some of the worst clashes
in last month's religious violence that left at least 38 people dead.
Security is being tightened in the city ahead of Megawati's three-hour visit on
Saturday. The president is scheduled to arrive at 3pm and will hold talks with local
religious and civic leaders. She will also meet with local government officials and
inaugurate four development projects worth a total of Rp97.6 billion ($11 million).
Ambon Police chief Leonidas Braksan declined to identify the arrested men or
comment on their possible targets. But detikcom quoted a police source as saying
the two had been planning to bomb a rival neighborhood bordering Talake.
Violence erupted in Ambon on April 25 after a clash between Christian separatists
and Muslim nationalists. Fighting, arson attacks, bombings and sniper attacks in the
city have largely been brought under control over recent weeks, although a bomb
exploded on Monday night after two separatist flags were hoisted.
The unrest had sparked fears of a return to bloody religious clashes that left about
6,000 people dead in the Maluku islands between 1999-2002.
The incident that started the renewed violence was a march staged by mostly
Christian separatists from the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) a parade to celebrate
the 54th anniversary of the outlawed South Maluku Republic (RMS). Nationalist
Muslims hurled stones and verbal abuse at the separatists, sparking deadly clashes
between the two communities. Hundreds of buildings were later torched and there
were numerous bomb attacks.
The rapid escalation of the carnage and the presence of unidentified snipers prompted
speculation the mayhem was being fanned by outsiders. Some observers even
claimed the unrest might have been linked to a power struggle between rival
contestants in the upcoming presidential election.
Elements of the military and police took sides in the 1999-2002 riots in the Malukus
and were accused of fueling the violence to further their political and financial
interests.
This time around, the military has adamantly denied any involvement in the violence,
but authorities are yet to unmask the snipers responsible for most of the recent
killings.
Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu on Friday urged Ambon's residents not to be
provoked into committing further acts of violence lest the city return to violence.
"I ask the inhabitants of Ambon not to reach the point of being provoked by agitation
by irresponsible people seeking to undermine the existence of the Unitary Republic of
Indonesia," he was quoted as saying by detikcom.
Commenting on the presence of barricades erected in several streets by neighborhood
vigilante groups, the governor said he had instructed Maluku Police chief Brigadier
General Adityawarman to have them dismantled.
Detikcom reported that most of the barricades had been removed by Friday, although
one was still blocking the road between Batu Merah and Mardika neighborhoods - the
place where the Ambon conflict started in 1999.
Chief of the Pattimura Regional Military Command, Major General Syarifudin Sumah,
who is responsible for security in the Maluku islands, said his personnel would be on
alert to ensure the president's visit proceeds smoothly.
"All military personnel will be mobilized to assist the police in maintaining security
during President Megawati's three-hour visit here," he was quoted as saying by state
news agency Antara.
"The president will be a special guest, so the military will be responsible for the visit
tomorrow," he added.
Megawati will arrive in Ambon from Ternate in neighboring North Maluku province and
will later fly to Timika in Papua province.
Asked about the street barricades in Ambon's volatile areas, Sumah said they had
been reopened through a "persuasive approach" to facilitate Megawati's visit.
"We have opened the roads that were blocked and traffic activity has returned to
normal," he said.
The number of barricades had increased earlier this month after four suspected FKM
separatists escaped from Maluku Police headquarters in Ambon.
The four fugitives - Johny Litaay (30), Johny Saiya (28), Polly Lauherry (30) and Yacob
Sinay (31) - were arrested on May 8 and escaped early the following morning.
Members of the so-called Command Post of Anti-RMS Movement had vowed to keep
several roads closed until the suspects were recaptured.
'No Repressive Acts'
Maluku Deputy Governor Memet Latuconsina on Thursday called on security
personnel not to carry out "repressive acts" on members of anti-FKM/RMS groups.
Anti-FKM groups took to the streets on Wednesday, clamoring for the re-arrest of the
four fugitives.
Also on Wednesday, unidentified gunmen traveling in a speedboat reportedly opened
fire on fishermen at Wayame village in Ambon's Baguala subdistrict. One fisherman,
identified as Frangky Sahertian, suffered gunshot wounds to his right arm and right
thigh and was rushed to local health clinic and then transferred to a Navy hospital.
Red Cross Assistance
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
in a statement issued Friday said they had been assisting victims of the recent
Ambon violence.
The ICRC said basic cooking, hygiene and shelter items had been given to almost
1,100 families (4,300 people) who had to flee their homes because they were
destroyed by fire or located in unsafe areas.
"Thanks to its well-established local network in Ambon, the PMI, working together
with the ICRC, was able to assist the victims of the violence in a targeted and efficient
manner. It coordinated its activities with the local civilian and military authorities,
which granted the Red Cross teams complete access to the area," said the
statement.
It said local community leaders praised the assistance as fair and balanced, with all
victims being registered independently and the distribution carried out directly by PMI
volunteers and ICRC staff.
The assistance was provided to displaced families currently staying in 26 collective
centers. It consisted of family kits comprising cooking utensils, sleeping mats,
sarongs, washing basins, soap and other hygiene material, the aim being to improve
living conditions and prevent the hygiene situation from worsening. Tarpaulin sheets
were distributed for shelter and construction material (wooden poles and planks)
delivered to strengthen the roofs of collective centers, some of which were on the
verge of falling in. Baby parcels were provided to help maintain good conditions of
hygiene among children under the age of two.
The PMI and the ICRC also provided emergency medical assistance in late April and
early May and are continuing to monitor the situation in Ambon in order to be able to
respond should further needs arise.
Copyright © 2000 - 2004 Laksamana.net, All Rights Reserved.
|
