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Christian villagers massacred in Maluku

Source
South China Morning Post - May 31, 2000

Agencies in Jakarta – Fifty-two bodies have been found in two mainly Christian villages in Indonesia's North Maluku province after attacks by Muslims, a priest said yesterday. The military said "jihad" holy war fighters from elsewhere in Indonesia were suspected.

At least 102 people were wounded, 300 houses torched and three churches set ablaze in Duma and Makete, the Reverend Jose Hadi, of the Tobelo Church Synod, said from Tobelo, 35km south of the villages on Halmahera island.

"Many of the dead were killed in their sleep," he said. "According to reports from a two-way radio ... the attackers were carrying automatic rifles and home-made bombs."

A military spokesman confirmed 47 deaths. An unconfirmed report said another 17 people were killed yesterday on Halmahera. More than 2,500 people have been killed in the Maluku island chain in 16 months of sectarian clashes. At least 800 Christians sought refugee at a church in Tobelo yesterday.

North Maluku military chief Lieutenant-Colonel Sukarwo said the military believed the attackers came from a neighbouring island and were members of a Muslim fighting force known as Laskar Jihad.

An Islamic activist on nearby Ternate Island said at least three Muslim attackers were also killed and seven others injured in Monday's raid after the Christians started fighting back.

Monday's attack was almost identical to a pre-dawn raid last week in the same area, which left 34 civilians dead according to some reports and 188 according to another.

A military spokesman said troops would be sent to the area. Another priest said local community leaders had so far rejected the presence of troops because they feared they were not neutral.

Troop reinforcements were rushed to Poso, on Sulawesi Island, adjoining the Malukus, where clashes between Christians and Muslims have killed seven people in a week.

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