Indonesia in Turmoil
-- The Associated Press
A M B O N, Indonesia, Aug. 12 — Religious violence and protests shook Indonesia today, with Christians and Muslims fighting in one province while demonstrators demanded independence for another.
Violence in the eastern province of Maluku left six people dead today, including an 11-year-old boy, when riot police dispersed rampaging gangs on the outskirts of the provincial capital, Ambon, witnesses said.
Violence has wracked Ambon for days. Meanwhile, officials promise that East Timor will get its promised ballot on independence. (ABCNEWS.com/ Magellan Geographix)
This week's death toll from clashes between Christian and Muslim mobs in Maluku rose to at least 45 after more than a dozen bodies were found in burned-out buildings, military spokesman Capt. Sutarno said.
Sutarno, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, also said 257 civilians and 16 security officers were injured in the unrest in Maluku, known as the Spice Islands during Dutch colonial rule.
Nearly 400 Have Died
Nearly 400 people have died this year in a series of clashes and riots between Christians and Muslims in the province, 1,450 miles northeast of Jakarta.
In Jakarta, Islamic students scuffled with police after demanding the resignation of Indonesia's defense minister, blaming him for crimes against humanity in the campaign against separatists in the northern province of Aceh.
About 100 students chanted “Allah Akbar,” or “God is great,” and accused Defense Minister Gen. Wiranto of being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of rebels and civilians in Aceh, located 1,100 miles northwest of Jakarta.
Another Troubled Province
Clashes with rebels demanding an independent Muslim state have claimed the lives of more than 250 people in Aceh, including 44 Indonesian troops. More than 140,000 villagers have fled their homes since May.
Indonesia has dispatched 11,000 troops to the province and human rights activists claim the military has massacred hundreds of villagers.
“Wiranto must take responsibility for the massacres in Aceh since he commands the troops,” said protest organizer Mastur Yahya.
At a seminar in Jakarta, Wiranto insisted that Indonesia would not consider granting independence to the oil-rich province.
Deaths in E. Timor Condemned
Also in Jakarta, Portugal's foreign minister condemned the killings of two pro-independence activists in East Timor, a half-island province where the United Nations is supervising a vote on independence.
“We deeply deplore the continuation of violence in East Timor,” said Fernando Neves, Portugal's envoy at a two-day meeting with U.N. and Indonesian representatives.
Indonesia invaded the Portuguese colony in 1975, and the United Nations has refused to recognize the occupation and still considers Portugal to be the sovereign power.
In a surprise policy reversal in January, Indonesia offered to withdraw from East Timor if voters there reject its autonomy proposal. Many foreign analysts believe that is exactly what will happen.
Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Indonesia in Turmoil
-- The Associated Press
A M B O N, Indonesia, Aug. 12 — Religious violence and protests shook Indonesia today, with Christians and Muslims fighting in one province while demonstrators demanded independence for another.
Violence in the eastern province of Maluku left six people dead today, including an 11-year-old boy, when riot police dispersed rampaging gangs on the outskirts of the provincial capital, Ambon, witnesses said.
Violence has wracked Ambon for days. Meanwhile, officials promise that East Timor will get its promised ballot on independence. (ABCNEWS.com/ Magellan Geographix)
This week's death toll from clashes between Christian and Muslim mobs in Maluku rose to at least 45 after more than a dozen bodies were found in burned-out buildings, military spokesman Capt. Sutarno said.
Sutarno, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, also said 257 civilians and 16 security officers were injured in the unrest in Maluku, known as the Spice Islands during Dutch colonial rule.
Nearly 400 Have Died
Nearly 400 people have died this year in a series of clashes and riots between Christians and Muslims in the province, 1,450 miles northeast of Jakarta.
In Jakarta, Islamic students scuffled with police after demanding the resignation of Indonesia's defense minister, blaming him for crimes against humanity in the campaign against separatists in the northern province of Aceh.
About 100 students chanted “Allah Akbar,” or “God is great,” and accused Defense Minister Gen. Wiranto of being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of rebels and civilians in Aceh, located 1,100 miles northwest of Jakarta.
Another Troubled Province
Clashes with rebels demanding an independent Muslim state have claimed the lives of more than 250 people in Aceh, including 44 Indonesian troops. More than 140,000 villagers have fled their homes since May.
Indonesia has dispatched 11,000 troops to the province and human rights activists claim the military has massacred hundreds of villagers.
“Wiranto must take responsibility for the massacres in Aceh since he commands the troops,” said protest organizer Mastur Yahya.
At a seminar in Jakarta, Wiranto insisted that Indonesia would not consider granting independence to the oil-rich province.
Deaths in E. Timor Condemned
Also in Jakarta, Portugal's foreign minister condemned the killings of two pro-independence activists in East Timor, a half-island province where the United Nations is supervising a vote on independence.
“We deeply deplore the continuation of violence in East Timor,” said Fernando Neves, Portugal's envoy at a two-day meeting with U.N. and Indonesian representatives.
Indonesia invaded the Portuguese colony in 1975, and the United Nations has refused to recognize the occupation and still considers Portugal to be the sovereign power.
In a surprise policy reversal in January, Indonesia offered to withdraw from East Timor if voters there reject its autonomy proposal. Many foreign analysts believe that is exactly what will happen.
Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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