Ambon – Thousands of terrified residents fled the already ravaged village of Waai on Friday, following a murderous overnight raid by a group of heavily armed people.
Witnesses said most of the people were headed for the foothills of Mount Salahutu and the predominantly Christian districts of Paso and Suli. At least 22 people were killed in Thursday's predawn attack and arson, which involved hundreds of Liang and Tulehu villagers armed with handguns, mortars, grenades, rifles and Molotov cocktails.
Data gathered from a civil emergency crisis center stated that 17 Waai locals died, mostly from gunshot wounds, and 14 others were injured. Five attackers also died in the fighting and 41 were wounded.
The group renewed their assault on Friday at around 10.20pm local time, destroying the remaining houses and a church with mortars, bombs and grenades. "We are striving to sift through debris to look for more victims or survivors," a Maranatha church worker said. Survivors of Thursday's attack were seen braving heavy downpours and rough tracks through the jungle to reach Paso, about 14 kilometers east of Waai.
Rumors of more violence caused thousands of locals, mostly women and children in Jasirah Ambon Utara district, to abandon their homes on Friday and move south to Laha Air Force Base and Jasirah Lei Timur.
"The troops were never around when we needed them. We are an open target for the rioters. The pamphlets on the planned attacks, the maps and the exact dates and locations of their raids have been circulating for sometime, but security forces do nothing," a local journalist said.
Violence has intensified despite the imposition of a state of civil emergency in Maluku since June 27. Governor Saleh Latuconsina promised on Friday to help evacuate Waai residents to Waidarissa village on Seram Island. "But it is up to the people as I know that actually they do not want to leave their homes," he said.
Meanwhile, Pattimura University rector deputy JE Louhanapessy said total losses resulting from the arson and looting of the university and its campus could reach Rp 900 billion.
In Central Sulawesi, Antara quoted provincial police chief Sr. Supt. Soeroso as saying on Friday that two police officers allegedly involved in the Poso rioting would stand trial as soon as their dossiers had been submitted to Palu District Court.
In Kuku village, North Pamona, Poso, police found another pile of skulls and bones believed to be the remains of seven people killed in recent rioting. The bodies were buried in a ceremony at Lawanga public cemetery in Poso Kota on Friday.
Meanwhile Kumai, West Kotawaringan regency, Central Kalimantan, remained tense following Thursday's clash between indigenous Malays and Madura migrants, in which four people were killed.
The town was totally paralyzed as police and security authorities blocked all access to the area. Its shops and offices were closed. Some 2,000 ship passengers had to continue their journey to Sampit Port because of the rioting, Antara reported.
In an unrelated event the central Java town of Cilacap was also tense following an overnight brawl between Plikon and Sumpilan villagers in Adipala district. At least one man, identified as Waryo, was burned to death by Plikon residents. Seeking revenge, Sumpilan villagers attacked Plikon, leaving 32 houses damaged, 17 of them razed.
Police arrested eight men from Sumpilan village and seized sharp weapons as evidence. As of Friday afternoon dozens of security personnel were seen stationed in the warring villages.