Ambon – The Maluku Police Chief, Brig. Gen. Police Firman Gani, announced an investigation into the capture of 16 renegade Mobile Brigade policemen. The Joint Battalion members seized the policemen in the Kairatu district of western Seram Island in Central Maluku.

Firman told the press in Ambon yesterday, December 4, that the police are coordinating with other institutions in the investigation.

At least 9 people have died during rioting that erupted in Kairatu on November 27. A joint battalion of Air Force special force (Paskas) units, Marines, Army special force (Kopasus) units, Mobile Brigade policemen, and intelligence agents reportedly attacked a rioter command post in Gemba village in the Kairatu district.

According to Firman, about 20 Mobile Brigade policemen from Company B assisted the rioters during the joint battalion attack. During the pursuit of the renegade police officers, the joint battalion forces captured sixteen men while five others escaped with their automatic guns.

Security forces have begun an intensive interrogation of the Mobile Brigade policemen at a location kept secret to avoid a new conflict.

Meanwhile, the Pattimura Military Command Chief, Brig. Gen. TNI I Made Yasa, said security conditions in Kairatu district have been stabilized. However, security forces in the area remain on high alert.

According to Made Yasa, some members of the security forces want the bloody conflict in Maluku to continue. Moreover, even the smallest incident may ignite a large problem in the fragile region.