People dead or injured in Christian/Muslim fight

Philippines News.Net
Sunday 11th July, 2010

There has been serious violence between two groups of young Christians and Muslims in Ambon, the capital of Maluku in Indonesia.

While police intervened to try to quell the fighting, they have since had to tighten controls in order to avert the danger of further violence.

Tensions in the area remain high and the head of security has called on the two sides for calm.

In the past the Moluccas was the scene of sectarian clashes that left thousands dead, while hundreds of churches and mosques were destroyed.

The latest violence is believed to be the result of a latent conflict between Christians and Muslims, which had been under-bubbling since a fragile peace treaty was signed in 2002.

Security forces have identified a dead victim, Arman Syukur, 21 years old, along with a soldier and a police officer, who were injured in the fighting.

The local Maluku police chief said he thought the violence might have been brought on by soccer hooligans who had become inflamed during a match between Holland and Brazil.

Between August 1999 and 2001 a bloody war was fought between Christians and Muslims in the Moluccas.

In February 2002 a ceasefire was signed between the two fronts.

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