Military deserters fuel Maluku
conflict says general
An Indonesian military commander
says army deserters have fuelled bloody violence between Muslims
and Christians in eastern Maluku islands.
The Jakarta Post newspaper quotes Maluku military chief Major
General Joko Santoso, as saying he has received reports of some
soldiers deserting to take sides in the sectarian conflict.
General Santoso says he has launched an operation to arrest and
investigate those personnel believed to be deserters.
A low-ranking soldier has been charged by a military tribunal in
the capital of Maluku province, Ambon with possession of
explosives to blow up a Christian church.
He was arrested late last year while carrying explosives, an
offence punishable by death.
Muslims and Christians in the Malukus battled intermittently for
three years until a peace pact was signed in February.
More than five-thousand people were killed and half a million made
homeless.
19/06/2002
18:06:03 | ABC Radio Australia News
|
