AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Wednesday January 23, 1:26 PM
Conflict among security forces hinders peace in Malukus: mayor
JAKARTA, Jan 23 (AFP) -
Conflicts between police and troops have hindered efforts at reconciliation between
warring Muslims and Christians in Indonesia's Maluku islands, a report said
Wednesday.
Ambon Mayor Yopie Max Papilaya, quoted by the Jakarta Post, said a state of civil
emergency imposed on the Malukus in 2000 was made ineffective by tension between
troops and police and their apparent bias.
"The state of civil emergency is, in fact, not effective as the military and police are not
solid and neutral in restoring security and order. The servicemen and police blame
each other and often shoot at one another," Papilaya said.
In a recent incident police opened fire on a tanker belonging to a navy unit, Papilaya
was quoted as saying.
"A sailor has gone missing. There's a possiblity that he has been abducted," the
mayor said.
In December at least three people were hurt in a shootout between police, soldiers
and marines in Ambon, the capital of M! aluku province.
The incident began when soldiers from an army battalion in a Christian area fired
shots at a Muslim-dominated area. Police returned fire because the shots apparently
threatened their post.
The navy later became embroiled in the shootout after their speedboats on the Bay of
Ambon also came under fire.
Papilaya was also quoted as saying that Jakarta had failed to pay serious attention to
problems facing the provincial administration in enforcing the emergency.
Ambon's sectarian violence has often taken place at sea, with several speedboats
shot at by snipers last month.
Fighting between Muslims and Christians in the Maluku islands has left more than
5,000 people dead and created 500,000 refugees since violence first erupted in the
town of Ambon, on the island of the same name, in January 1999. The violence has
lessened recently.
Both camps have accused police and soldiers of taking sides.
Copyright © 2001 AFP. All rights reserved.
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