Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Maluku's Pattimura Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso
reiterated his warning on Monday that security forces would search
door to door for illegal weapons in the troubled province.
The two warring factions -- Muslim and Christian -- had been
given till June 30 to give up their weapons, otherwise security
forces would use force to deal with those refusing to do so.
"As the deadline has passed, we will continue to conduct
sweeping raids for weapons in areas of both (Muslims and
Christians)," Djoko told journalists after attending a
ceremony on Monday which marked the 56th anniversary of the
National Police at Merdeka (Freedom) Square in Ambon, the capital
city of Maluku.
Djoko, who also leads the Maluku security restoration
operation, said raids would be conducted in the main streets and
houses of Ambon and other towns in the province to search for
sharp weapons in an attempt to prevent further violence.
He made a similar warning on Sunday when Christians from
Kudamati village near Ambon voluntarily surrendered weapons to the
Pattimura military command.
"As long as there is no reconciliation among local feuding
people, we will continue sweeping operations. We will do so
legally," he said.
Djoko said he believed there must be certain people who had
refused to give up their arms despite the expiration of the
deadline.
The illegal weapons surrendered by the Kudamati residents
included five firearms, hundreds of home-made guns, 206 home-made
bombs, seven magazines, hundreds of bullets and hundreds of
traditional arms, including machetes, arrows and swords.
Residents in Kudamati said they surrendered their illegal
weapons without force by security personnel, although they were
still traumatized by a deadly attack on people in Soya, a
Christian village near Ambon.
At least 13 people were killed when a gang of masked people
stormed Soya on Apr. 28, 2002 and set fire to 24 houses and a
church dating back to 1876.
The attack, blamed on members of the militant Laskar Jihad
Muslim group, was one of the worst incidents of violence to erupt
since a peace deal was signed by warring the Christian and Muslim
groups on Feb. 12.
Kudamati residents admitted the surrender followed assurances
by the local security forces to protect them from any attacks from
rival gangs.
Djoko and Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko hailed the
move by the Kudamati residents to hand over their weapons
voluntarily.
"This shows a spiritual circumstance among those people,
which could lead to the possibility of Muslims and Christians
living together again," Soenarko said.
He said the police along with the military would strive hard to
protect all Maluku people from any attack.
