INDONESIA: ARMY AND POLICE SEEM POWERLESS TO STOP FIGHTING BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MOSLEMS

Record ID: 376293

  • Title: INDONESIA: ARMY AND POLICE SEEM POWERLESS TO STOP FIGHTING BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MOSLEMS
  • Date: 21st July 2000
  • Summary: AMBON, INDONESIA (JULY 19, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. HAS NIGHT SHOTS OF BURNING HOUSES IN CHRISTIAN AREA (2 SHOTS) 0.12 2. SLV BURNING ROOF/DOOR 0.15 3. MV WOUNDED CHRISTIANS IN HOSPITAL 0.24 4. SCU WOUNDED WOMAN LYING ON STRETCHER 0.32 5. SCU INJURED FOOT OF WOUNDED MAN 0.44 6. MV/SLV ARMED CHRISTIAN MILITIA ROAMING THE ST
  • Embargoed: 5th August 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: AMBON, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVACSE6OAEBWHVUSKY9M1YZHROBW
  • Story Text: There has been no let up in the violence in
    Indonesia's spice islands and the army and police seem powerless
    to stop the fighting between Christians and Moslems.

    The religious war in the Moluccas, a scattered island
    group 2,300 km (1,440 miles) east of Jakarta is weighing
    increasingly heavily on President Abdurrahman Wahid's shaky
    government.

    Indonesia's police chief has conceded international
    peacekeepers might be forced on the country if it fails to end
    the religious slaughter that has killed thousands.

    In some cases, rogue soldiers have taken sides in
    battles.

    Christian areas in the town of Ambon, the Moluccas' main city, were
    ablaze on Wednesday (July 19) and more refugees were fleeing
    the city.

    Wounded sought treatment in Ambon's hospitals as
    Christian and Moslem militias patrolled freely.

    On Sunday, (July 17) the army conducted searchec for
    hidden weapons.

    But despite the army seemingly stepping in to prevent
    further violence, the fighting continues unabated.

    Until recently, the government has fiercely rejected any
    suggestion of outside involvement to end the bloodshed, still
    stung by the embarrassment of foreign intervention last year
    in East Timor.


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