JAKARTA (JP): Perpetrators of the aggression at dawn on Sunday
against Soya village in Sirimau subdistrict, Ambon mayoralty,
Maluku province, which claimed at least 12 lives, were not members
of the Indonesian Military (TNI), according to a localmilitary
spokesman.
"The people should understand that any rioter could use
TNI uniform. Such an act is an attempt to discredit the TNI,"
chief of the information department of the Pattimura Military
Commandoverseeing Maluku and North Maluku provinces Maj. Herry
Suhardy said in Ambon, as quoted by Antara on Sunday.
The dawn assault against Soya village reportedly killed at
least 12 people, injured 11 others, and burnt 20 houses and one
house of worship.
Some local people, who were suspicious of TNI members'
involvement in the attack, initially turned down assistance from
the troops, who were deployed to chase the rioters.
On efforts to deal with the attackers, Suhardy said the
military command had now deployed troops to sweep the area.
