Ambon, November 27, 2000
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 97
- FURTHER NEWS ON ATTACKS AT THE ISLAND OF KESWUI - (see Report 96
no.2) This morning's Suara Maluku newspaper reports about the unrest on the
island of Keswui, that an initial attack was launched by people from the village of
Lahema on the christian village of Utta, island of Keswui, at about 6.00 p.m. on
Thursday November 23. The attackers came on more than a dozen speedboats. A
church and three houses were burned down. Local military forces managed to
protect the villagers lives. The residents of Utta then took to the mountains.
- FURTHER NEWS ON ATTACKS ON KAIRATU - (see Report 96 no3) This
morning's Suara Maluku newspaper reports that at 5.30 a.m. on Saturday,
November 25, christians in Kairatu, a little town at the coast of S.W.Ceram and in
Uraur, a little village north of Kairatu were attacked by muslims coming from the
direction of Gemba/Waimital and Telaga and also from the sea on five
speedboats. One christian was killed, one wounded. Among the attackers seven
are said to be killed and three wounded. Physical damage: 146 houses, 3
churches (one catholic, three protestant) and 1 elementary school burned down.
The attack was carried out by about 2.500 militias, among whom laskar jihad, and
started at Waipirit, the anchorage site of Kairatu, with throwing of grenades. The
attackers used organic weapons. At last they were driven back by army forces.
- SHOPKEEPER STABBED - On Saturday, November 25, a shop servant in
Ambon, named Tan Kok Siong (36) was stabbed with a knife by three young men
who pretended to be customers and consequently died.
- TENSENESS IN WAYAME - The village of Wayame, on the opposite shore of the
bay of Ambon, not far from Poka/Rumahtiga, has a mixed population of muslims
and christians, who up to now live in peace one with another. However, since
Saturday evening, November 25, sounds of grenades and shooting was heard
there, so that about 90 christian families (250 persons) fled to Benteng (town of
Ambon).
C.J.Böhm MSc,
Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
Ambon, November 25, 2000
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 96
- VISIT OF THE APOSTOLIC NUNCIO - Yesterday the Vatican Ambassador to the
Republic of Indonesia (called Apostolic Nuncio ), Monseigneur Renzo Fratini,
arrived at Pattimura Airport, Laha/Ambon, for a one night s stop on his way to the
Kei Islands, where he will stay from November 25 to November 28. The Nuncio
came he said to bring a message of peace from Pope John-Paul II. The Nuncio
was accompanied by the bishop of Amboina, Msgr. P.C.Mandagi MSC, and the
chairman of the KWI Crisis Centre at Jakarta, Father Ismartono SJ (KWI =
Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia / Indonesian Bishops Conference). Since the
situation in Ambon recently had become tense as a result of renewed clashes,
the Nuncio and his companions were met at the airport by a Navy helicopter by
which they were brought to the town of Ambon. During the afternoon the Nuncio
had meetings with the governor and other governmental, police and military
officials and also with Protestant and Muslim Leaders. At 5.00 p.m. a solemn
Mass was celebrated, attended by a large multitude of catholics. This morning the
Nuncio again by helicopter left for the airport, where he boarded a Fokker-27 plane
from the Air Force to the Kei Islands, together with bishop P.C.Mandagi MSC,
former bishop Mgr. A.Sol MSC, Fr. Ismartono and several delegates from catholic
organisations and NGO-s from Ambon.
- VIOLENCE IN GORONG - At the eastern tip of the island of Ceram, in
south-eastern direction, lies a string of small islands, among others Geser,
Gorong, Keswui, Teor, Kurmangur and Tayando, thus geographically linking
Ceram with the Kei Islands. These islands, except Geser, up to now had no
unrest like the rest of the central Moluccas. However, for whatever reason,
yesterday christians of the island of Keswui (also spelt as Kasiui) unexpectedly
were attacked from joined muslim militias from the islands of Geser, Gorong,
Kurmangur and Tayando. Siwalima newspaper, which did investigation on this
incident as accurate as possible, reports that the villages of Karlomin, Utta,
Wunin and Tansoa were burned down. Eight christians from Karlomin were killed
(7 male, 1 female). Those attacked either fled in speedboats to Tual (Kei Islands)
or took refuge in the mountain side.
- VIOLENCE IN KAIRATU - We were informed by telephone and HT from Piru, in
the western regency of Ceram, that several christian quarters in the little coastal
town of Kairatu, south of Piru, this morning were attacked by muslims. They at
least burned down the former caholic church and nearby houses, the recently built
new catholic church and the adventist church. There was no mentioning of any
casualties. People are reported to have fled into the mountains.
- VICTIM OF SNIPER - In Ambon, the road via Pohon Pule bridge is open again,
though snipers are still active. Yesterday a passenger of a minibus was badly hurt
by a bullet when the bus passed Kampung Kolam and became target of a sniper.
The sniper hid somewhere in the police living quarters ( asrama Polisi ) of Perigi
Lima. Meanwhile additional Brimob police forces have been stationed to that area.
There will also be investigation on any likely involvement of police servicemen in
these sniper activities.
- UPGRADING OF SECURITY AT SEA - On November 23, two companies of
Marine Forces (Marinir) left Jakarta for Ambon to intensify protection of sea traffic,
specifically in the Bay of Ambon.
C.J.Böhm MSc,
Secretary Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
|