New clashes between Christians and Muslims in the Moluccas
Worst since the peace of February 2002
Jakarta (AsiaNews) Continued clashes between Christians and Muslims exploded Sunday, April 25th in the town of Amboina, capital of the Molluccas archipeligo in eastern Indonesia. The death toll has climbed to 18 and more than 100 are seriously injured.
Today, the violence erupted in the suburb of Talake, where a mob torched buildings at a Christian-run university. About 200 policemen were sent to the province for security support. Yesterday, the conflicts followed a banned parade organized by Christian separatists of the Moluccas Sovereignty Front, that celebrated the 54th anniversary of its unsuccessful attempt to proclaim independence.
Police arrested the general secretary of the movement, Mozes Tuanakotta, and questioned around twenty other individuals. About a hundred military and paramilitary troops were dispatched to stop the violence.
According to the Diocese of Amboina Crisis Center, the UN building was burned, as well as 4 cars from UNICEF, UNDP (Program of the Nations United for the Development) and Save the Children. The Amans Hotel in the Christian district of Mardika, part of the Silo church, and several locations in Poka were also destroyed.
During the night, a series of attacks against Christians in the Batugantung district forced them all to leave the area, disarmed and without police. These last conflicts were the most violent since the peace agreement of February 2002, signed after 3 years of conflict that caused 5 thousand deaths and half a million refugees.
According to the Crisis Center, at least 35 thousand new houses were built for refugees in Ambon and on the nearby islands, but are still not inhabited because they are very small and lack essential services (water and electricity). Many therefore have settled in refugee camps. The government often allows the refugees to build their own homes, giving each family either 10 million rupies (about 980 euro) or the construction materials directly in order to avoid them spending the money in another manner. (MR)
.png)
