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Four people killed in fresh Ambon violence
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The
Jakarta Post
September 9, 2002
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Four people killed in fresh Ambon violence
Oktavianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A Christian man was killed when a mob set his van on fire in the restive town of
Ambon, Maluku, on Sunday after three Muslim females were shot dead in Kulur
village, Saparua island, Central Maluku.
Unidentified gunmen aboard a speedboat sprayed bullets at the coastal village of
Kulur early on Sunday, killing a women and two girls. The victims were identified as
Miftaul Ulung, 23, Fatimah Tuhulele, 11, and Fitria Litiloli, 11.
Their bodies were taken to Al Fatah Mosque at Batumerah subdistrict, Ambon,
setting emotions high among Muslims in Ambon, especially those originating from
Kulur.
People then set alight the passing van in the city's predominantly Muslim sector of
Galunggung, killing its driver, identified as Dany Matulessy.
To prevent the violence from spreading, security personnel blocked roads leading to Al
Fatah Mosque, and guarded along streets dividing the Muslim and Christian
communities in Ambon.
The local police could not be immediately reached for comment. Meanwhile, the head
of local Army office, Col. Hudawi Lubis, said: "We have closed the roads to avoid
further incidents."
Some, nevertheless, speculated that the attack on Kulur village was part of an effort to
renew the interreligious violence in Maluku as Kulur borders the Christian village of
Porto.
Last Thursday, a bomb exploded at a stadium in Ambon, instantly killing three high
school girls who were doing exercises in the stadium. Another girl died later at the
hospital.
Maluku has been the scene of fighting between Muslims and Christians that has left
more than 6,000 dead since 1999. Tens of thousands of others have fled their villages
for safer places.
Maluku had remained relatively calm after representatives of the Muslim and Christian
communities met and signed a peace agreement at the South Sulawesi resort town of
Malino last February.
Although clashes between Muslims and Christians had not happened since the
signing of the peace accord, explosions, shootings and other killings have continued
to occur in Ambon and other parts of Maluku.
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