INDONESIA: JAKARTA: ETHNIC & RELIGIOUS TENSIONS CLAIM 6 LIVES (2) скачать в хорошем качестве

INDONESIA: JAKARTA: ETHNIC & RELIGIOUS TENSIONS CLAIM 6 LIVES (2)

(22 Nov 1998) Indonesian/Nat Ethnic and religious tensions claimed at least six lives as violence spilled onto the streets in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, on Sunday. Mobs of Muslim youths attacked and burned at least four Christian churches. Troops used tear gas and fired in the air in an attempt to quell the trouble which was centred less than half a mile from the Presidential palace. Government troops were out in force on the streets of Jakarta on Sunday attempting to curb violence in the Indonesian capital. Trouble flared throughout the day as gangs of Muslim youths many brandishing large knives ran through the streets. Army sources said Muslim residents were angered by unsubstantiated rumours that Christians had attacked a mosque. Dozens were reported injured in fighting between Muslims and Christian migrants originally from the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon. At least five armoured personnel carriers were sent out to protect shops, and some troops fired at looters, a witness said. Squads of soldiers also protected several churches as night fell. Army chief General Wiranto blamed the violence on agitators. SOUNDBITE:(Bahasa Indonesia) Rough translation "The military has been forced to act so firmly because people have been inciting the students to act up." SUPER CAPTION: General Wiranto, Armed Forces Commander Earlier on Sunday soldiers had been called into the north of Jakarta soon after the mobs took to the streets. But there was little they could do to stop the burning of the Christian Church of Ketapang. Muslim residents say they burned the church and gambling hall in retaliation after a group of Christian Ambonese reportedly attacked a mosque early on Sunday morning. But as night fell reports of the attack on the mosque remained unsubstantiated. In the attack on the church and the gambling hall, assailants with knives and broken bottles fatally stabbed two men. Officials of the Indonesian Red Cross recovered five bodies of Ambonese who had been slashed with knives and broken bottles. Assailants paraded a sixth body in a cart. It was not known where the victim was from. The killers of one man cut off one of their victim's ears and brandished it. The latest violence comes as Indonesia struggles to cope with its worst economic crisis in 30 years. Millions of people now live in poverty as inflation and unemployment rates soar. President B.J. Habibie warned recently of a major breakdown in law and order. He is at the centre of protests over his plans to change Indonesia's political system, which opponents say fall short of introducing true democracy. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...