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CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA Ambon, September 7, 2001 THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 197 1. CIVILIANS MISHANDLED ON CERAM – Since the beginning of this month in the local christian newspapers "Suara Maluku" and "Siwalima" there has been much ado about an affair in the little town of Waisarissa, West Ceram, concerning 47 christians, including two reporters of these newpapers, who on August 30 had been savagely beaten up by members of the military combined battalion (Yon Zipur III and Yonif 731/Kabaressy), stationed at Waisarissa. They had come there to witness c.q. to report on a special adat happening, called "The Three Brooks" and had been traditionally invited by receiving "a chicken feather". However they were thought to have come in order to promote the FKM i.e. the South Moluccas Independence Movement, led by Alex Manuputty. Only after having been taken to police headquarters at Masohi, the local capital on south Ceram, their wounds were taken care of and they were dealt with properly. Among them, three were found to have weaponry on them. Six others were thought to be active members of the FKM, since they had FKM membership cards on them. Though there will be juridical proceedings on their case in Ambon, they were immediately released nonetheless. Should be added that the Commander of the Yon Zipur III Battalion came to Masohi to apologize for the harsh treatment they had been given. The adat celebration in Waisarissa was cancelled. 2. BRIDLING OF NEWSMEDIA – The two reporters that had been abused in Waisarissa (see no.1) were accused to have handled contrary to an official letter that had been issued by the governor of the Moluccas as the Responsible for the Emergency State, on August 28, 2001. In that letter the newsmedia were forbidden to report on any FKM activities. Meanwhile the AJI (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen) Indonesia has strongly protested against that prohibition, since it obstructs authentic gathering and publishing of news items. Having been detained during one day both reporters had been released under condition that they would not report on the maltreatment they had experienced nor on any FKM activities they might have witnessed. On September 5 local TV showed Kyai Haji Ali Fauzi, leader of the BIMM ("Badan Immarat Muslim Maluku") supporting the action of the military towards both reporters. C.J.Böhm MSc, Received via e-mail from : Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |