DATE=6/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=MALUKU / MILITARY (L)
NUMBER=2-263787
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Indonesian Armed Forces are rotating
troops out of the riot-ravaged province of Maluku,
saying they have become involved in the fighting
between Muslims and Christians. Patricia Nunan
reports from Jakarta that fighting in Ambon continues,
hours after a state of emergency was declared.
TEXT: A spokesman for the Indonesian Armed Forces
says that rogue elements within the Indonesian Armed
Forces have been taking sides in the fighting in
Maluku province. Officials say that many of the
troops have been stationed in Maluku for too long, and
have become what he called - emotionally involved - in
the issues there.
About 14-hundred of the roughly 10-thousand troops
stationed in Maluku province will be rotated out. The
move comes after leaders of both the Christian and
Muslim communities accused the military of being
biased in handling clashes between the two groups.
The Indonesian government declared a state of civil
emergency this week in Maluku province after six-days
of clashes between mobs of Muslims and Christians.
But residents say little has changed since the order
went into effect.
Gunfire and bomb blasts could be heard across the
provincial capital Ambon. Snipers continue to shoot
at people from the city's rooftops. Residents also
say there is no sign of increased security since the
state of emergency went into effect Monday and they
are afraid to leave their homes.
More than 60-people have died in a week of clashes
between Christian and Muslim mobs. The latest round
of violence follows more than 18-months of sporadic
fighting between the two groups - which human-rights
officials say has claimed more than three-thousand
lives.
The latest bloodshed to rock Maluku is being described
as the worst sectarian violence in the history of
Indonesia. Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim
country, but in Maluku province the ratio of Muslims
to Christians is closer to even.
The exact cause of the strife remains unclear. Many
people, including Indonesian President Abdurrahman
Wahid, say that provocateurs may have manipulated the
violence.
/// WAHID ACT ///
To be frank with you, we do not know exactly whether
the fighting is engineered or not.
/// END ACT ///
Speculation about provocateurs has been at the center
of government discussions about the violence in Maluku
for the past 18-months. But no group or individual
allegedly involved in provoking clashes has been
identified.
The declaration of a state of civil emergency is one
step away from martial law. The decree allows troops
to enforce a curfew, search homes, and detain
suspects. But local civilian authorities remain in
charge of the province. (SIGNED)
NEB/HK/PN/GC/JO
27-Jun-2000 07:33 AM EDT (27-Jun-2000 1133 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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