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, April 19, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 264
1. ALEX MANUPUTTY ADMONISHES HIS FOLLOWERS – When in the afternoon of
last April 17, FKM leader Alex Manuputty was detained to be interrrogated on any
separatist aspirations and planned actions, he was allowed to address the several
hundreds of young sympathizers that had gathered outside the Police Headquarters
were he was being confined. According to Paulien Joel-Parera’s report he said: “My
dear and beloved brothers, young Moluccans! I am grateful to the Lord that you remain
faithful, being one great nation, if only this nation has its leaders in high esteem. No
strive goes without sacrifice. All strive means sacrifice. I remind you of the first USA
President’s struggle; he said that freedom does not come by itself. So we mus! t
strive, strive and strive. It is like at school: there, too, we must strive to attain our
goals. That is why I fight in a moral way. You have already uttered your emotion in a
decent and acceptable way and by your singing you have praised the Lord. Indeed
without the Lord all efforts are in vain. He that sows in tears, will harvest in joy. After I
have finished talking to you, please go home quietly. As for me, I am sound and safe;
my safety is guaranteed by the Police Commander and all of his men. You may come
back tomorrow in a polite way. Show yourselves as brothers with high moral attitude
and do not do anything that leads to anarchy, do not do anything against the law”.
Indeed the following morning many gathered again around the Police Headquarters. It
was only when in the afternoon at last Alex Manuputty was released, that they broke
up quietly.
2. CRIMINALITY (CORRECTION) – On April 17 (Report 262) we reported the murder
on four persons near the Amans hotel. This report was based on widely spread
gossip, but now has proved to be incorrect. According to “Siwalima” daily, confirmed
by police officials, not any murders have taken place there lately. It is thought that
this rumour was spread by provocateurs in order to discourage Muslims and
Christians from socializing at the vendors’ site.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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