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, November 27, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 495
1. EARTHQUAKE ROCKS CERAM ONCE AGAIN - An earthquake measuring 5.0 on
the Richter scale rocked the large island of Ceram, North of the island of Ambon, at
3.28 a.m. last Friday, November 25. The tremor was felt on most of the island, but as
yet there have not been any reports of casualties or physical damage. Twelve days
earlier, too, a strong tectonic quake rocked the island. In both cases most people fled
from their homes, whereas many people in coastal areas headed for higher grounds
for fear of a tsunami.
2. STRIFE BETWEEN VILLAGES CLAIM ONE DEAD - Dispute on ownership of land
often causes discord and even violence between villages anywhere in the Moluccas. In
the evening of November 23 and the early morning of November 24, two muslim
villages on the Northern part (Leihitu subdistrict) of the island of Ambon, Mamala and
Morale, clashed on the issue of land-ownership, resulting in one dead and fifteen
injured; ten houses were set on fire. Ali Malawat (42) from the village of Mamale was
killed when a home-made bomb exploded in his hands. The conflict came to an end
thanks to persuasive intervention by the police and Mobile Brigaders. However, the
fact that during the clash home-made bombs, rifles and other weaponry were used,
supports the assumption that in Ambon there is still a lot of weaponry hidden among
civilians. Search on weapons which was carried out by police and military personnel
in both villages the day after (November 25), reportedly resulted in confiscation of 17
home-made rifles, 3 home-made pistols, 6 home-made grenades, 71 bullets and 50
winged arrows.
3. TERRORIST NEST UPROOTED - A rather spectacular anti-terrorist action was
carried out by police forces from the Ceram capital Masohi in cooperation with Mobile
Brigade police and Ambon Ressort police personnel. On indication by local residents
- thus was declared to mass media by provvincial Police Chief Commander, Brigader
General Adityawarman - the police arrived at the village of Haya (Tehoru district,
South-Ceram) at 2.50 a.m. on November 25. The number of persons they managed to
arrest in their sleep was 21. Ten of them are from the island of Java and are thought to
be active in the Al-Mujahidin pesantren in the hamlet of Sakanusa, village of Haya, led
by Ustad Batar. Their names are: Zamdani, Amru Rosid, Musap, Rudi Hendrawan,
Abu Ayas, Alan Alpasa, Indra Mulyono, Anto, Aliansyah and Iman Sulaiman. The
others are from Haya: Bahtiar Syarif, Alimudin Pellu, Ahmad Ayun Ayuba, Muhamad
Pellu, Idrus Wailissa, Bambang Wiyono Wailissa, Benyamin Namakule, Kasman
Abdullah, Rajab Mahu, Iman Sulaiman, Syamsudin Hayoto serta Hi Mampo. Arrested
was also the one who was the main target, namely police officer Syarif Tarabubun
(26), who is suspected of participating in a number of terrorist actions, such as the
killings at Wamkana (March 5, 2004 - Report 431), Villa Karaoke (February 15, 2005 -
Report 466) and Loki (May 16, 2005 - Report 478). Though now calling himself
Lukman Mute and having put on weight and possessing a clean skin, nevertheless he
was recognized as the nefarious policeman. All of these persons are in custody now.
Additional note: Police Chief Adityawarman said that Imam Samudera, notorious as
the Bali bomb initiator, had been at the same site near the village of Haya; his
mother-in-law is from that area. The Haya area - he said - used to be a terrorist
training camp. The police will investigate whether recently there still have been any
training activities there.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |