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Viewing cable 08SURABAYA16, POLICE AND SOLDIERS CLASH IN CENTRAL MALUKU: THREE DEAD

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08SURABAYA16 2008-02-05 09:38 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Surabaya
VZCZCXRO9627
RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJS #0016 0360938
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050938Z FEB 08
FM AMCONSUL SURABAYA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0152
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0072
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0074
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0139
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHJS/AMCONSUL SURABAYA 0157
UNCLAS SURABAYA 000016 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, INR/EAP, DRL/PHD, INL, S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PREL ID
SUBJECT: POLICE AND SOLDIERS CLASH IN CENTRAL MALUKU: THREE DEAD 
 
REF: JAKARTA 217 
 
This message is Sensitive but Unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
1. (SBU) According to police and media contacts, early Saturday 
morning, February 2, a group of Indonesian armed forces (TNI) 
soldiers from the 731 Kabaresi infantry battalion in Central 
Maluku attacked local police offices in the city of Masohi on 
the island of Seram.  After an exchange of gunfire that lasted 
six hours, two policemen and one soldier were dead and three 
policemen injured.  The soldiers reportedly used combat rifles 
and grenades, burned nine police barracks, and destroyed the 
official residence of the Police Chief of Central Maluku. 
 
2. (SBU) According to the Pattimura Military Commander, the 
incident was triggered by a misunderstanding.  Reportedly, after 
a dispute with his girlfriend, a TNI soldier from the 731 
Kabaresi infantry battalion failed to return to his barracks. 
After rumors circulated that he was being detained by police, 
his colleagues decided to attack the local police station to 
secure his release.  No civilians were involved in the clash. 
 
3. (SBU) Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu, the Pattimura 
Military Commander, and the Maluku Provincial Chief of Police 
(Kapolda) traveled to Masohi to take control of the situation. 
On February 4, TNI soldiers and police officers met in a tearful 
reconciliation ceremony at a sports stadium in Central Maluku. 
The Military Commander expressed his apologies to the Kapolda 
and pledged to help rebuild the burnt residences and other 
facilities.  As of February 5, all contacts tell us that the 
situation is Masohi city is "back to normal." 
 
MCCLELLAND