CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA
Jalan Pattimura 32 -- Ambon 97124 -- Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337
E-mail: crisiscentre01@hotmail.com
Ambon, March 21, 2003
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report No. 358
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1. INTERNAL CONFLICT OF CHRISTIANS – In the early hours of March 19 a
conflict between some Passo young people and several in Passo staying youths from
the destroyed village of Waai resulted in the death of Jhon Limbong (24), a Passo
resident, who was killed by a throng of Waai youngsters. The conflict had already
started in the afternoon of March 18, when Kiler Parera (25) from Passo, was
seriously injured at his head by a mob of drunken young people from Waai. Security
forces managed to put a halt to the bloody feud.
For more than two years already several thousands of refugees from Waai have been
sheltered in three huge clove storage buildings in Passo. As since this incident their
safety is in jeopardy, Acting Governor Sinyo Sarundayang has decided that their
return to Waai should be sped up. After taking the necessary security precautions,
rebuilding of the totally destroyed village of Waai will start within a few days – he
said. Waai lies on the Eastern coast of the island of Ambon, some 15 km North-East
of Passo, between the Muslim villages of Tulehu to the South and Liang to the North.
Friendly relationship with Tulehu has already been restored, but it seems that Liang is
still opposed to the Christians’ return to Waai.
2. INTERNAL CONFLICT OF MUSLIMS - On South Seram, in the Kairatu area, a
conflict between the Muslim villages of Hualong and Latu on March 20, resulted in four
persons being injured.
3. IRAQ – The recent attack on Iraq by USA and British military forces up to now has
not had any significant impact on the situation in the Moluccas.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
