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Ambon Berdarah On-Line
News & Pictures About Ambon/Maluku Tragedy

 

 


  
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May 2002

 


Mirror site: http://go.to/alifuru67


The graphic photos (appearing courtesy of Masariku Network) although horrible remind us that we are not just talking about statistics but real victims. The photos appear on the website in the hope that the international community may be jolted into a response.
http://cryindonesia.rnc.org.au/breaking_news.htm


THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 280 (09/05/02) #3050
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, May 9, 2002
ADJUSTMENT OF BAN ON VISITORS – The government is still wary on visits by foreigners to the Moluccas. The governor’s spokesman declared on local TV last night that:

INDONESIA : Vice president visits detained militia leader (09/05/02) #3046
ABC 08/05/2002 21:03:03
Indonesia's Vice President Hamzah Haz has denied striking a deal with the detained leader of the militant islamic group, Lashkar Jihad. Hamzah Haz visited Jaffar Umar Thalib, head of the Laskar Jihad, in his cell at national police headquarters in Jakarta. Mr Thalib was arrested for allegedly inciting a massacre of Christian villagers in the Maluku islands.
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Indonesian VP visits detained Maluku militant (09/05/02) #3045
CNN, May 8, 2002 Posted: 10:56 AM HKT (0256 GMT)
By Amy Chew
JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz has visited the detained commander of a militant Muslim group, arrested for inciting violence in the riot-torn Maluku islands.

Muslim Brotherhood or Political Brotherhood? (09/05/02) #3044
LAKSAMANA, May 8, 2002 06:05 PM
Laksamana.Net - Vice President Hamzah Haz has come under fire for his meeting with arrested Laskar Jihad chief Jafar Umar Thalib, who is accused of inciting a recent massacre of Christian villagers in Ambon, Maluku province.

Hamzah denies any deal with detained Laskar Jihad chief (09/05/02) #3041
The Jakarta Post, 5/8/2002 3:26:41 PM
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Hamzah Haz said Wednesday hestruck no deals during his controversial meeting with an arrestedLaskar Jihad Islamic militia chief, who is accused of inciting amassacre of Christian villagers in the Maluku islands, reportssaid.

The War on What? (09/05/02) #3034
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Wednesday, May 8, 2002
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Spend a few days in Indonesia and you'll find many people asking you a question you weren't prepared for: Is America's war on terrorism going to become a war against democracy?

THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 279 (08/05/02) #3032
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, May 7, 2002
POLITICAL ASYLUM – A large picture of the bishop, Msgr. P.C.Mandagi, adorns the front page of today’s local “Suara Maluku” newspaper with the headline “The christian community will ask for political asylum”. This somewhat disturbing news item had been quoted a little inaccurataely, but nevertheless was his ultimate conclusion if the Military Emergency State would be applied to Ambon. Mgr. Mandagi fears that, if this system is to be carried out by an immoral, unjust and corrupt government that puts own ambitions above common welfare, an ethnic cleansing might be the result. “In that case” – he said – “we hope that large vessels will be ready in the bay of Ambon to take the population of the Moluccas out of here”. Msgr. Mandagi, together with several other Church leaders, is now in Jakarta to assist the Town’s Council in its discussions with national government authorities.

Hamzah Haz visits Ja'far in police cell (08/05/02) #3029
The Jakarta Post, May 08, 2002
Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The pressure on the police rose to dizzying heights on Tuesday when Vice President Hamzah Haz visited the detained commander of the Laskar Jihad Muslim group, Ja'far Umar Thalib, in his cell at the National Police Headquarters.

Hamzah visits detained Laskar Jihad commander (08/05/02) #3028
The Jakarta Post, 5/7/2002 3:41:55 PM
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Hamzah Haz visited on Tuesday Laskar Jihad commander Ja'far Umar Thalib, who has been detained since Saturday at National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta, a report said.

Indonesian vice president visits detained Islamic militia chief (08/05/02) #3027
PR NEWS ASIA, 07 May 02 - 15:27
JAKARTA (AFX-ASIA) - Vice President Hamzah Haz has visited the arrested leader of an Islamic paramilitary group who is accused of inciting a massacre of Christian villagers.

Illegal Arms: Money from the Barrel of a Gun (08/05/02) #3018
TEMPO Magazine, May 07 - 13, 2002
Where do all the weapons in Ambon come from?
Time and time again the security forces have disarmed the groups in conflict in Maluku-or at least those that agreed to hand over their weapons. Time and time again they have carried out raids. But a large number of weapons are still circulating among the Christian and Muslim fighters of the troubled region and the TNI and police ultimately have to turn their eyes on themselves if they want to solve the problem.

[Editorial] Ja'far's arrest and Malino (07/05/02) #3016
The Jakarta Post, May 07, 2002
Days after the arrest in Surabaya of Ja'far Umar Thalib, the commander of the militant Islamic group Laskar Jihad, it is not surprising that skepticism is being voiced by the public over the effectiveness of the measure. As was reported, police arrested Ja'far on Saturday on his arrival in Surabaya from Makasar on charges of inciting violence after mass prayers in Ambon two days earlier. Police authorities, explaining the arrest to the media on Sunday, read out portions allegedly taken from Ja'far's lecture on the occasion to prove the Laskar Jihad commander's guilt.

Bloody Ambon (07/05/02) #3015
TEMPO Magazine, May 07 - 13, 2002
Ambon is writhing again after a new spate of bloody violence. But the real fighting may be going on behind the scenes, among the local and national elites. The electricity suddenly goes off. It is 4am Ambon time. Suddenly explosions echo across the battered city and fires appear all over the place. The sounds of gunfire mix with screams and crying from women and children. Soya, a village 5 kilometers to the southeast of Ambon city, generally a calm and peaceful place, has erupted in tumult. Soya is located on the slopes of Mount Sirimau, so the fires can be seen a long way away. Twelve people die, two of them children. Another 12 are injured and more than 30 buildings burnt, one of them the old Church of Soya, built in 1896.

THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 278 (07/05/02) #3012
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, May 7, 2002
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON CHRISTIAN VILLAGES – The christian villages of Amahusu and Eri lie on the northern coast of the southern peninsula of the island of Ambon, about 15-20 km S.W. of the city of Ambon. There are only a few security forces stationed there, because the area is considered to be tucked away safely in a completely christian area. However, yesterday, at about 04.00 a.m., two speedboats drew near the site shielded by the darkness, probably with the intention to drop anchor at the about 4 km long sparsely populated stretch between both villages.

Govt backs firm action against Ambon provocateurs (07/05/02) #3011
The Jakarta Post, May 7, 2002
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
As if to prove its commitment to law enforcement in Maluku, the central government has given the green light for authorities to arrest and charge provocateurs in the troubled province.

Maluku provincial legislators reject martial law (07/05/02) #3007
The Jakarta Post, May 7, 2002
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A delegation of legislators and community leaders from Maluku commenced a road show in Jakarta on Monday voicing strong rejection to the implementation of martial law in Maluku province.

Christians return to streets of Indonesia's tense Ambon (07/05/02) #2996
REUTERS, Mon May 6, 2002 10:48 AM ET
By Grace Nirang
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Some life returned to the streets of Indonesia's troubled eastern city of Ambon on Monday as frightened Christians came out of hiding after a weekend of unrest, but residents fear more violence could erupt.

Indonesia Christian Killings: Militant Leader Arrested (07/05/02) #2995
CNSNews, May 06, 2002
By Patrick Goodenough, Pacific Rim Bureau Chief
Pacific Rim Bureau (CNSNews.com) - Amid international criticism, Indonesian authorities at the weekend arrested a radical Islamic leader accused of inciting supporters to murder Christians in the strife-torn Maluku Islands. But a veteran churchman said he doubted the government would risk a violent backlash by acting firmly against the militants.

Int'l Christian Groups Want Indo'an Jihad Fighters Expelled (07/05/02) #2991
CNSNews, May 03, 2002
By Patrick Goodenough, Pacific Rim Bureau Chief
Pacific Rim Bureau (CNSNews.com) - International Christian organizations are urging the Indonesian government to expel an Islamic "jihad" group from the country's strife-torn Maluku province and arrest its leader, following killings widely blamed on the militants.

Govt backs arrest of Laskar Jihad chief: minister (06/05/02) #2989
The Jakarta Post, 5/6/2002 12:39:54 PM
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian government supports the arrest of an Islamic militia chief who has been linked to the latest Soya incident that killed at least 13 people in the outskirt of Ambon capital of restive Maluku, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil asserted on Monday.

Indonesian government supports the arrest of Jihad leader (06/05/02) #2988
ABC 06/05/2002 16:06:39
Indonesia's Defence Minister Matori Abdul Jalil says the government supports the arrest of an Islamic militia chief who has been linked to the massacre of 13 Christians in the Maluku islands.

Laskar Jihad commander decries arrest, (06/05/02) #2985
considers suing police
The Jakarta Post, May 6, 2002
Yogita Tahilramani and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Arrested commander of Laskar Jihad Ja'far Umar Thalib denied any wrongdoing on Sunday and is now considering launching a pretrial lawsuit against the National Police over his arrest, which he claims was baseless and lacked sufficient evidence.

THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 277 (06/05/02) #2984
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, May 5, 2002
REACTION IN AMBON ON JAFAR'S ARREST – As soon Jafar's arrest was known in Ambon, masses convened and moved threateningly towards Christian quarters. We could hear the frightening sound of exploding bombs and gunfire. People in the endangered areas fled to safety. Security forces succeeded in preventing major bloodshed. In the turmoil one person was killed and more than a dozen were wounded.

Analysts doubt Ja'far arrest will end violence (06/05/02) #2982
The Jakarta Post, May 6, 2002
Kurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Analysts doubt the arrest of the commander of the militant Islamic group Laskar Jihad, Ja'far Umar Thalib, will end the bloody violence in Maluku because those directly responsible for the latest massacre remain at large.

Ja'far considers launching pretrial lawsuit against police (06/05/02) #2981
The Jakarta Post, 5/5/2002 9:42:37 PM
JAKARTA (JP): Arrested commander of Islamic militant group Laskar Jihad Ja'far Umar Thalib, denied any wrongdoing on Sunday and is now considering launching a pretrial lawsuit against the National Police over his arrest, which he said was baseless and lacking in evidence.

Arrest of Laskar Jihad chief 'part of law enforcement' (06/05/02) #2980
The Jakarta Post, 5/5/2002 5:04:23 PM
JAKARTA (JP): The recent arrest of Laskar Jihad leader Jaffar Umar Thalib is an example of the type of active law enforcement that is expected to curb the violence in Ambon, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on Sunday.

Laskar Jihad chief's arrest is legally sound: Police (06/05/02) #2979
The Jakarta Post, May 4, 2002
JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Saturday that the order to arrest Laskar Jihad commander Jafar Umar Thalib was based on legal grounds because the latter had been suspected for quite some time of being involved in theMaluku conflicts, reports said.

VP asks Maluku authorities to work together (06/05/02) #2978
The Jakarta Post, May 4, 2002
JAKARTA (JP): In the wake of the recent sniping among Maluku authorities, Vice President Hamzah Haz told all officials in charge of the state of civil emergency in the province to work together in dealing with the prolonged conflict there.

Tension rise in Ambon, one killed (06/05/02) #2976
The Jakarta Post, 5/4/2002 5:17:37 PM
JAKARTA (JP): Tension rise in Ambon capital of strife torn Maluku as one person was killed and at least two others injured in a bomb blast on Saturday, reports said.

Jafar Umar Thalib arrested in Surabaya (06/05/02) #2972
The Jakarta Post, May 4, 2002
JAKARTA (JP): In a move to restore order and put an end to the Maluku conflict Indonesian Police arrested commander of Muslim paramilitary group Laskar Jihad Jafar Umar Thalib on Saturday over alleged provocation in last week's Soya incident inthe Maluku capital of Ambon, officials said.

Indonesian police claim to have arrested radical (06/05/02) #2971
Islamic commander
ABC 04/05/2002 23:00:50
Indonesian police claim to have arrested the commander of the radical Islamic militia Laskar Jihad, Jaffar Umar Thalib.

Jakarta Arrests Militant Muslim Chief Over Ambon (06/05/02) #2970
REUTERS, Sat May 4, 2002 12:07 PM ET
By Joanne Collins
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia said Saturday it arrested the head of a top Islamic militant group over recent violence in the eastern city of Ambon as troops fired warning shots in the troubled city to disperse protesters.

Two killed in Indonesia's Ambon as police arrest militia head (06/05/02) #2969
ASSOCIATED PRESS, Sat May 4, 2002 9:55 AM ET
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Homemade mortars exploded in Indonesia's Maluku province Saturday, killing two people amid renewed Muslim-Christian violence.

THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 276 (06/05/02) #2966
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, May 4, 2002
AMBON AGAIN CLOSED TO FOREIGNERS – From May 2nd on, Ambon again is closed to foreigners that want to come in. No time limit has been fixed this time. A CNN team, on arriving at Ambon Pattimura Airport a couple of days ago, was refused permission to enter Ambon.

Fresh riots break out in Indonesia's Ambon province, 3 injured (06/05/02) #2963
ASSOCIATED PRESS, Sat May 4, 2002 5:40 AM ET
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Fresh fighting between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia's Maluku province broke out on Saturday, leaving three people injured, witnesses and local news reports said.

THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 275 (06/05/02) #2961
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, May 3, 2002
BRINGING THE GOVERNMENT TO COURT – The 35 member Town's Council, too, intends to leave for Jakarta on first opportunity, with as predominant goal: officially accusing the Government of violating the Moluccas Agreement of Malino, in which it was agreed upon that the government would see to the implementation of this Agreement and take firm measures against anybody that would act contrary to this Agreement. Towards all violations that have happened since February 12, the Government has not or has not sufficiently fulfilled its pledge and thus should be brought to court.

Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 74 (06/05/02) #2960
26 April - 3 May 2002
MALUKU * Twelve people were killed and several others seriously injured when unidentified gunmen launched an attack on Soya village, in the Sirimau Sub-district of Ambon City, on Sunday (28 Apr.) morning. This prompted Jakarta to pledge to deploy reinforcement troops and take firmer action to restore peace in Maluku. At least 24 houses and a church dating back to 1876 were also set ablaze by the attackers.
NORTH MALUKU * The Mayor of Ternate City, Samsir Andili, presided over the official launch of the first ever cellular telephone network operation in Ternate on Saturday (27 Apr.). The phone service provided by the state-owned Telkomsel will initially have a limited reception/transmission range of less than 20 kilometres. When construction of a permanent tower is completed, a nation wide access will be possible.

Indonesian-Style Taliban Fights for Islamic Law (06/05/02) #2958
Radical Groups Challenge Secular Traditions
THE WASHINGTON POST, Saturday, May 4, 2002; Page A01
By Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Washington Post Foreign Service
TASIKMALAYA, Indonesia -- The Taliban Brigade stormed into the hotel lounge shortly before midnight, wielding rattan canes and screaming "God is great!"

Indonesian cleric fights for a Muslim state (06/05/02) #2957
The Christian Science Monitor, May 02, 2002
By Dan Murphy | Special to The Christian Science Monitor
SOLO, INDONESIA – Abu Bakar Bashir is a schoolteacher. He has white hair, a reedy voice, gold-rimmed glasses – and a growing number of close colleagues in foreign jails.

Indonesia's deadly war games (06/05/02) #2956
ASIA TIMES, May 4, 2002
By Richel Langit
JAKARTA - "By hook or by crook" seems to be the tenet that Indonesia's powerful military and police hold dearly in pursuing their political ambitions.

A Jihad Elsewhere (06/05/02) #2955
The Wall Street Journal
, May 3, 2002
By DOUG BANDOW, senior fellow at the Cato Institute.
Ambon, Indonesia - For violent religious conflict -- especially between Muslims and non-Muslims -- the world's attention is directed at the Mideast and the threats emanating from al Qaeda.

"Slick Snake" Amien backs martial law in Maluku (03/05/02) #2952
The Jakarta Post, May 3, 2002
JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) says the government should not hesitate to impose martial law in conflict-ridden Maluku if it deems it necessary to do so.

"Corrupted" House Speaker says martial law should (03/05/02) #2951
be imposed in Maluku
The Jakarta Post, May 01, 2002
JAKARTA (JP): House Speaker Akbar Tandjung suggested on Tuesday the government consider implementing martial law in strife-torn Maluku in a bid to speed up efforts to restore peace to the province. Speaking to the media at the House, Akbar asserted that, "it's time for the government to consider the implementation of martial law".

Ambon: Battlefield for Jakarta Players (03/05/02) #2946
LAKSAMANA, May 1, 2002 04:49 PM
Laksamana.Net - Ambon is again being used as the scene for a war by proxy among the Jakarta elite but just who's involved remains less than clear. Just one week before the celebration of the anniversary of the Republic of South Maluku (RMS) movement April 25, two important events took place in Jakarta.

Search For Weapons in Ambon (03/05/02) #2944
TEMPO, 1 May 2002 18:58:49 WIB
TEMPO Interaktif, Ambon, South Maluku::Security forces will search all homes in four districts of Ambon where it is suspected that explosive materials and weapons are hidden.

Maluku's Suffering Church Has A New Voice (03/05/02) #2943
CryIndonesia
Legendary singer/songwriter Sir Cliff Richard has added his voice to the campaign in support of the suffering Church in the Indonesian province of Maluku. Here is the song:
Goodbye, goodbye Ternate town
We came to Bitung town fleeing to find refuge
We the people from Ternate, oh.
We gather together in a rattan cane factory and talk
about what happened in Ternate
Oh, Oh, how sad it is!
We remember our homes and churches that are burned to
the ground and shed our tears

Indonesia: The shadow war on terror (03/05/02) #2939
THE EARTH TIMES, April 30, 2002
» BY LAWRENCE PINTAK
Shortly after he was arrested for orchestrating the assassination of a supreme court justice late last year, Hutomo (Tommy) Soeharto, son of the former Indonesian strongman, filed suit against two aides of former President Abdurrahman Wahid.

'Ninjas' prowling Christian quarters in tense (03/05/02) #2938
Ambon city, witnesses say
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Tuesday April 30, 2002 3:17 PM
Tensions between Muslims and Christians in the religiously-divided Indonesian city of Ambon remained high with rival groups stoning each other and "ninja-style" intruders reported prowling through Christian quarters, a local priest said.

Martial law looms over Indonesia's riot-torn Maluku (03/05/02) #2937
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Tuesday April 30, 2002 3:53 PM
JAKARTA (AFP) - Indonesian authorities looked increasingly set to declare martial law in the eastern province of Maluku, where a fragile government-brokered peace has been shattered by renewed Muslim-Christian violence.

THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 274 (02/05/02) #2936
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, May 2, 2002
ON YAFAR UMAR THALIB: We have ordered to arrest him. This command seemingly cannot be carried out yet, because the strength of the security forces may not be adequate to cope with any consequences of such arrest: it may result in unwelcome bloodshed.

Governor links Laskar Jihad to Soya attack (02/05/02) #2934
The Jakarta Post, May 02, 2002
The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina intimated that the Laskar Jihad paramilitary fighters, whose presence in Maluku is apparently supported by many Muslims who reside in Maluku, was closely linked with the deadly attack in Soya Village on Sunday.

12 Christians Killed in Pre-Dawn Brutal Attack in Ambon (02/05/02) #2932
ICC REPORT — April 28, 2002
Washington, DC April 28, 2002 - At least 12 Christians were brutally murdered and another 6 were injured during a deadly attack on the village of Soya during the early morning hours of April 28. The attack on the Protestant Christian Soya village near Ambon was carried out by armed attackers around 4 am Sunday morning. Black-clad Muslims "went from house to house, while proclaiming Allah's Greatness, murdering anybody they could lay hands on, not sparing women and children, including
a nine month old baby that was killed by bullets," according to the Crisis Diocese of Amboina. Six of the victims were stabbed or shot while another six were burned to death. The unidentified attackers, believed to be members of the radical Laskar Jihad Islamic group, also burned down a Protestant church and dozens of Christians' homes before fleeing the scene.

SOS Letter to UN from Churches in the Moluccas Islands (02/05/02) #2931
This is an SOS call from us, the Churches in the Moluccas Islands. There have been series of fresh attack again directed towards the Christians in the Moluccas. The previosly condition was a little better after a peace agrreement was signed by representatives ftom Christian and Moslem communities and by the Central and local Government.

THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 273 (02/05/02) #2930
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, May 1, 2002
SHOULD NOT JAFAR BE ARRESTED? – The Joint Investigation Team is ready to arrest and interrogate Jafar Umar Thalib on his recent provoking tabliq akbar, if only it is ordered to do so by the Civil Emergency Administrator – thus was stated by its chairman Johny Tangkudung. Asked how he possibly could expect to be able to arrest Jafar when even minor conspicuous opponents of the Moluccas Agreement like Muhammad Atamimi and Abdullah Latuapo could not be laid hands on, he only answered that they would try and do their best.

Too hard to arrest leader of Islamic militia: Maluku governor (02/05/02) #2929
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Wednesday May 1, 2002 3:15 PM
The governor of Indonesia's strife-torn Maluku province said it was too difficult to arrest the leader of the Islamic militia accused of involvement in a weekend massacre of Christians.

Lemhanas Recommends Military State of Emergency in Amq (02/05/02) #2923
TEMPO, 1 May 2002 21:3:29 WIB
TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta: The National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) has recommended that a military state of emergency be imposed in Maluku.

Al Qaeda's new frontier: Indonesia (02/05/02) #2919
Video shows Muslim cleric calling for jihad against Christians
The Christian Science Monitor, May 01, 2002 edition
By Dan Murphy | Special to The Christian Science Monitor
JAKARTA, INDONESIA – On the steps of a humble mosque, Abu Jibril Abdurrahman quickens his cadence as he approaches the emotional crescendo of his sermon: "Oh God," he implores, "help us to destroy the infidels who have killed our children."

Mission to Ambon (02/05/02) #2918
In another 3 hours Annette and I fly to Ambon. In the last week several more Christian villages have been attacked with some 15 Christians and scores of houses burned down. The Islamic propaganda machine is well oiled. As soon as they attack and destroy a Christian village, miles from Islamic areas, they immediately blame the Christians. Sometimes they quote some incident by the Dutch pre-1945 as their justification for launching the attack.

14 Christians Killed in Ambon City, Indonesia (02/05/02) #2917
Jubilee Campaign USA, April 30, 2002
During the early morning hours of Sunday April 28, while proclaiming Allah's Greatness and shouting "kill them all", black-masked Muslim attackers gunned down or hacked to death 14 Christians in the Protestant- Christian village of Soya. The Jihad warriors went from house to house stabbing, shooting, and setting off bombs-not sparing women and children including
a nine-month-old baby.

Mega orders probe into Ambon attack (02/05/02) #2916
The Jakarta Post, May 01, 2002
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri instructed Maluku authorities to make a thorough investigation into the deadly attack on Soya village and to take tough action against those involved in the violence that has derailed the two-month-old Malino peace agreement.

Jakarta groups took millions from Al-Qaeda (30/04/02) #2914
THE STRAITS TIMES, Tuesday, April 30, 2002
By Devi Asmarani, STRAITS TIMES INDONESIA BUREAU
Militant Muslim bodies admit receiving cash from Osama's terror network, but insist there were no strings attached. JAKARTA - Several militant Muslim groups in Indonesia have admitted receiving millions of dollars in funds from Al-Qaeda, but said that there were 'no strings attached'.

DEADLY ATTACK ON CHRISTIANS (30/04/02) #2913
Muslim militia in Maluku untouchable
THE STRAITS TIMES, Tuesday. April 30, 2002
By Marianne Kearney, STRAITS TIMES INDONESIA BUREAU
The authorities are unwilling to crack down on the Laskar Jihad because of its perceived military and political support. JAKARTA - Backing for Laskar Jihad from rogue members of the military and the apparent support of powerful politicians and Muslim parties have made the paramilitary group virtually untouchable.

Indonesia in 'mental distress (30/04/02) #2912
THE AUSTRALIAN, April 30, 2002
INDONESIA is a nation in severe mental distress, a Jakarta-based neuro-psychiatrist says. In a controversial paper to be delivered to a Brisbane conference tomorrow, Suharko Kasran, of the Trisakti University, argues Indonesia is exhibiting symptoms not unlike an individual in mental distress - restlessness, anxiety, fear and phobia, paranoia, irritability, aggression and psychosis.

Maluku violence due to lack of law enforcement (30/04/02) #2910
The Jakarta Post, April 30, 2002
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The prospect of lasting peace in Maluku has once again shattered by Sunday morning's deadly attack in the capital of Ambon.

Authorities blamed for new spate of violence in Maluku (30/04/02) #2909
The Jakarta Post, April 30, 2002
The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Many blamed the Maluku authorities for the recent spate of violence that effectively derailed the Malino peace deal, saying the conflict that had claimed more than 6,000 lives had been prolonged because of the absence of action against law breakers.

[Editorial] Death blow to peace? (30/04/02) #2908
The Jakarta Post, April 30, 2002
The grim episode of violence that took place in the early hours of Sunday morning in the troubled eastern province of Maluku has shocked the nation into realizing just how fragile is the peace that has come in the wake of the Malino accord signed last February.

[Opinion] Reconciliation: Not just ending the violence (30/04/02) #2907
The Jakarta Post, April 30, 2002
Ignas Kleden, Sociologist, The Center for East Indonesian Affairs, Jakarta
Conflict and conflict resolution used to be seen as very closely related. However, between the two things there is a great distance, in which different problems emerge and where some intermediate initiatives can be taken.

RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN INDONESIA (30/04/02) #2905
Mob kills 14 people in Ambon
THE STRAITS TIMES, Monday, April 29, 2002
By Derwin Pereira, INDONESIA CORRESPONDENT
Pre-dawn attack saw mostly Christians stabbed, burned. JAKARTA - A mob stabbed and burned to death 14 people in Indonesia's strife-torn Maluku province yesterday, raising concerns of more sectarian bloodshed in the days ahead.

Dutch Moluccans react to Ambon bloodshed (30/04/02) #2904
Expatica Netherlands, April 29, 2002
THE HAGUE - The exiled government of the Free South Moluccan Republic (RMS) is considering stepping up protest actions in the Netherlands against the recent violence on the Moluccan island of Ambon.

12 more killed in attack on Christian village near Ambon (30/04/02) #2903
ABC 29/4/2002
In the Indonesian Maluku Islands militia men wearing military-style uniforms have attacked a Christian village outside the provincial capital Ambon, killing a dozen people, and burning down homes and churches. The attack has disrupted the reconciliation process which has been gaining ground between Muslim and Christian groups in recent months and which had led to a a peace deal being signed in February. The weekend's attack followed calls by Jafar Umar Thalib, the leader of the militant islamic Laskar Jihad army for Muslims to reject the historic peace deal.

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Presenter/Interviewer: Tricia Fitzgerald & Eddie Utama.

THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 272 (30/04/02) #2901
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, 29 April , 2002
THAMRIN ELLY: JAFAR WAS JOKING – Up to now no comments have been expressed by local authorities on Jafar Umar Thalib’s presence in Ambon and his provoking tabliq akbar last Friday. The leader of the Muslim Malino delegation, Thamrin Elly – according to “Siwalima” newspaper – said (prior to the attack on Soya): “Jafar was just joking (bercanda). Do not let yourself be provoked. He orders his followers to wage war. But war is only possible if both sides agree to make war on each other. In this case this condition is not fulfilled, since there is only one party that wants war”. After the devastation of Soya, christians might ask Thamrin what actually he meant by “joking”.

Indonesian military chief says weapons proliferation (30/04/02) #2896
sparks violence
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Monday April 29, 2002 3:46 PM
Indonesia's military chief blamed the proliferation of weapons in strife-torn Maluku province for renewed violence that has shattered a fragile two-month old peace.

Six members of Indonesia's special forces (30/04/02) #2893
suspected of Eluay murder
ABC 30/04/2002 02:41:46
In Indonesia a high level investigation team says six members of the army's special forces are suspected of murdering an independence leader in the easternmost province of Papua last year.

Maluku killing prompts warning from government (30/04/02) #2892
The Jakarta Post, April 29, 2002
The central government pledged on Sunday to deploy reinforcement troops and take firmer action in order to restore peace in Maluku, following renewed violence that left at least 12 people dead and dozens of others injured earlier in the day.

Military emergency in Maluku 'depends on conditions (30/04/02) #2891
on the field'
The Jakarta Post, April 30, 2002
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S. asserted on Monday that the plan to impose a military state of emergency in strife-torn Maluku would be based on objective conditions on the field, a report said.

Indonesia Military Seeks Martial Law in Moluccas (30/04/02) #2889
REUTERS, Mon Apr 29, 2002 4:55 AM ET
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's military said on Monday it wants martial law imposed on the Moluccan islands after at least 12 people were killed in weekend attacks that raised fresh doubts about a fragile peace pact in the troubled region.

Fourteen killed in Indonesia's Maluku province (30/04/02) #2882
CNN, April 29, 2002 Posted: 5:46 AM HKT (2146 GMT)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Black-masked assailants armed with guns,
grenades and daggers stormed a village in Indonesia's religiously divided Maluku province Sunday, killing 14 Christians in a brutal pre-dawn attack that threatened a fragile peace pact.

Attack on Christians in Indonesia leaves 12 dead, (30/04/02) #2881
including stabbed baby
Canada News, Sunday, April 28, 2002
Canadian Press
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - A mob in military fatigues attacked a Christian neighbourhood in the religiously divided city of Ambon on Sunday killing 12 people, witnesses said. It was the worst violence since a fragile peace was forged earlier this year in the region.

Ambon killings threaten peace (30/04/02) #2880
Australian Financial Review, April 29, 2002
Tim Dodd in Jakarta
Twelve people died yesterday in an attack on a Christian neighbourhood in the capital city of Ambon, threatening the fragile peace deal in Indonesia's province of Maluku.

Christians call for crackdown on Muslim group (30/04/02) #2879
suspected of slayings in Indonesia's Maluku province
ASSOCIATED PRESS, Mon Apr 29, 2002 6:11 AM ET
AMBON, Indonesia - A Christian church leader on Monday called for a crackdown on a paramilitary Muslim group suspected of involvement in the brutal killings of 12 Christians in Indonesia's Maluku province.

Number of Casualties in Incident in Ambon May Rise (30/04/02) #2878
Xinhua News Agency, April 28, 2002 22:03:05
JAKARTA, April 28 (Xinhuanet) -- The number of casualties in the sudden attack at dawn on Sunday in Soya village in Ambon, Indonesia, is expected to increase from the present 12, according to the Antara News Agency.

Rebel Crackdown Sought in Indonesia (30/04/02) #2877
ASSOCIATED PRESS, Mon Apr 29, 2002 6:21 AM ET
AMBON, Indonesia (AP) - A Christian leader on Monday called for a crackdown on a paramilitary Muslim group suspected of involvement in the brutal killings of 12 Christians in Indonesia's Maluku province.

THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 271 (29/04/02) #2872
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, April 29, 2002
FURTHER NEWS ON SOYA – Local Radio and TV provided further details on the attack on the Protestant-Christian village of Soya we mentioned yesterday. When early in the morning of April 28 it was Soya’s turn to have its electricity turned off, i.e. at 3.45 a.m., a fulle-scale attack was launched on the mountain village with mortars, bombs, gunfire and other weaponry. The attackers (whether “ordinar” Muslims or Laksar Jihad) entered the rather small village and went from house to house, while proclaiming Allah’s Greatness, murdering anybody they could lay hands on, not sparing women and children, including a nine months old baby that was killed by bullets.

Update on Ambon - Sunday 28th April 2002 (29/04/02) #2871
Uniting Church in Australia National Assembly
Now the leader of the Jihad, Jafar Umar Thalib is calling for a war against the "Christian" RMS in Ambon. On Saturday night (27th April) the Christian village of Soya (5 kms east of Ambon in the hills behind the city) was attacked by mortar fire. This morning the village of Tanah Lapang Kecil/Batugantung was fired on. Twelve people are reported dead while 30 houses have been destroyed in Soya. The number of injured people is still unknown.

At least 12 people killed on Indonesian island of Ambon (29/04/02) #2870
ABC 28/04/2002 22:15:40
At least 12 people have been killed in renewed violence on the eastern Indonesian island of Ambon. Mark Bowling reports, pre-dawn attacks on two Christian villages were carried out by an unidentified gang.

Muslim mob attacks Christian village in Ambon (29/04/02) #2869
ABC 28/04/2002 15:00:56
A Muslim mob has attacked a Christian area in the city of Ambon in Indonesia's troubled Moluccas region, killing at least 11 people.

Please take a moment to read the following and PRAY! (29/04/02) #2867
CryIndonesia
Last night I was quite troubled in my spirit and sent out the message, 'April 25 and talk of war'. I hoped it would be no more than 'talk' but tragically Thalib's terrorist speech, declaring renewed war on Christians in Maluku, has stirred Laskar Jihad to action. The village of Soya has been attacked and AT LEAST 12 people have been killed, many more seriously injured. Other reports are coming in of mortar fire on other christian villages.

"TNI denial of the involvement in Soya incident is a big lie" (29/04/02) #2865
The Jakarta Post, 4/28/2002 4:12:17 PM
JAKARTA (JP): Perpetrators of the aggression at dawn on Sunday against Soya village in Sirimau subdistrict, Ambon mayoralty, Maluku province, which claimed at least 12 lives,
were not members of the Indonesian Military (TNI), according to a localmilitary spokesman.

12 killed in pre-dawn raids on two villages south of Ambon (29/04/02) #2858
ABC 28/04/2002 17:10:31
The death toll from the latest sectarian violence around the city of Ambon in Indonesia's troubled Moluccas region has been increased to 12.

Sectarian violence erupts in Indonesia (29/04/02) #2857
CNN, April 28, 2002 Posted: 2:28 PM HKT (0628 GMT)
AMBON, Indonesia -- The delicate peace in Indonesia's Moluccas region has been shattered after a Muslim mob attack on a Christian area that left at least 11 people dead.

Attackers kill 12 in Christian area of Indonesia's Ambon (29/04/02) #2856
REUTERS, Sun Apr 28, 2002 6:38 AM ET
AMBON, Indonesia (Reuters) - Armed attackers raided a Christian neighbourhood in Indonesia's ravaged city of Ambon on Sunday, killing at least 12 people and raising fresh doubts about the chances for peace in the troubled Moluccas region.

Indonesia's Ambon city in worst violence since truce (29/04/02) #2855
ASSOCIATED PRESS, Sun Apr 28, 2002 4:04 AM ET
By MICHAEL CASEY, Associated Press Writer
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Assailants in black masks and armed with
grenades and rifles stormed a Christian neighborhood in the religiously divided capital of Indonesia's Maluku islands on Sunday yelling "kill them all" as they hacked, shot and burned to death 14 people, including a baby, police and witnesses said.

12 reported killed in renewed violence in Ambon (29/04/02) #2854
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Sunday April 28, 2002 3:28 PM
At least 12 people were reported killed after a gang raided two Christian villages south of Indonesia's strife-torn Ambon city in a pre-dawn attack.

New violence kills 12 in Indonesia (29/04/02) #2853
The Washington Times, April 28. 2002
By Sukino Harisumarto
JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 28 (UPI) -- A gang of armed people attacked two Christian villages in the eastern Indonesian conflict-ravaged city of Ambon before dawn Sunday, killing at least 12 people and wounding several others, residents and news reports said. Top Stories

Indonesian mob kills 12 Christians (29/04/02) #2852
USA TODAY, Sunday, April 28, 2002 - Updated 01:02 AM ET
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A mob stabbed and burned to death 12 Christians in the religiously divided capital of Indonesia's Maluku province Sunday, witnesses said, in the worst violence since a fragile peace was forged earlier this year.

Sniper shoots and wounds soldier in Ambon (29/04/02) #2850
ABC 27/04/2002 22:10:33
A sniper has shot and wounded a soldier in Indonesia's strife-torn Ambon city as Maluku independence supporters again hoisted banned separatist flags.

THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 270 (28/04/02) #2842
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, April 28, 2002
VILLAGE OF SOYA ATTACKED – From own sources we learn that last night the Christian mountain village of Soya, at a distance of about 5 kilometers East of the city of Ambon, was bombed by mortars and attacked with gunfire. The upper village (Soya-Atas) went up in flames. Eleven residents of Soya reportedly have been killed. Brimob Police forces have been sent up to the site. Unrest in Masohi (South Ceram) has been reported as well.

Soldier shot in Ambon after separatist flag-flying incident (28/04/02) #2840
The Jakarta Post, 28 April 2002
JAKARTA (JP): A military member of the 741th Battalion on Saturday afternoon was shot in the leg when security forces tried to secure the Trikora Monument area in Ambon, the capital of restive Maluku province, a report said.

THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 269 (28/04/02) #2838
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, April 27, 2002
TABLIQ AKBAR – Jafar Umar Thalib's tabliq akbar started at 5.00 p.m. yesterday and took place in the large front yard of the Al-Fatah Mosque. He did not spare anybody, defiling everybody from the President down to the military. The Moluccas Agreement of Malino was treason, the Governor a traitor etc. He urged a no-reconciliation program and to wage war on the RMS Christians, to zealously fabricate bombs etc. He was incessantly interrupted by endorsing shouting and applause by the large Muslim crowd that attended the meeting.

Muslim militiaman says prepare for war (28/04/02) #2837
CNN, April 26, 2002 Posted: 9:06 PM HKT (1306 GMT)
AMBON, Indonesia (AP) -- The leader of a militant Muslim militia in Indonesia's Maluku islands has told thousands of supporters to prepare for war against a mostly Christian separatist group. Jafar Umar Thalib, the commander of the Laskar Jihad, urged his followers on Friday to reject a recent peace deal between Muslims and Christians that had mostly stemmed three years of religious fighting in the region.

Muslim militia leader tells followers to prepare for war (28/04/02) #2836
ASSOCIATED PRESS, Fri Apr 26, 2002 7:00 AM ET
AMBON, Indonesia - The leader of a militant Muslim militia in Indonesia's Maluku islands told thousands of supporters Friday to prepare for war against a mostly Christian separatist group.

BOMB BLASTS IN MALUKU (28/04/02) #2833
THE STRAITS TIMES, Saturday, April 27, 2002
By Marianne Kearney
STRAITS TIMES INDONESIA BUREAU
JAKARTA - Hundreds of crack police troops were sent to restore order in Ambon, the capital city of Maluku, after bomb explosions there threatened to destroy a shaky peace deal.

Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 73 (28/04/02) #2829
19 - 26 April 2002
MALUKU * Supporters of FKM (Maluku Sovereignty Front) managed on Thursday (25 Apr.) to hoist RMS (South Maluku Republic) flags at Batu Gagah, Telaga Raja, at the Xaverius School, and at some other locations in the Ambon city. Flags were also flown in Passo, in Aburu, Haruku Island, and parts of Seram. Flags attached to helium balloons were released in several parts of the city. The event drew responses from some Muslim groups. Bombs and gunfire (apparently by the military trying to shoot down the balloons) was heard in many parts of the city. At about 11 a.m. the Silo Church, currently in the process of being rebuilt after being destroyed in 1999, was reported to be on fire. Damage was reported to be minimal. FKM leader Alex Manuputty is currently under police custody.
NORTH MALUKU * An AcF team assessed and monitored the progress in the AcF-supported shelter construction by returnees in East Gane of North Maluku District during the week. AcF also assessed the progress of its fresh water supply programme in Jailolo Sub-district.

Dutch businessman dreams of independent Ambon (28/04/02) #2827
Australia Associated Press
, Friday April 26, 2002
By Catharine Munro, South-East Asia Correspondent
JAKARTA, Umar Santi has only been once to the Indonesian province he one day hopes to help govern. But the independence movement of which he claims to be deputy leader for the Maluku islands has become a destabilising political force in the province's strife-torn capital, Ambon, observers say.

Stand Off in Ambon (28/04/02) #2826
LAKSAMANA, April 26, 2002 02:52 PM
Laksamana.Net - At least one soldier was injured in rioting that broke out in the city of Ambon after Muslims massed after prayers Friday (26/4/01) in a new threat to hopes for peace in the city, racked by insurgency for the past three years.

Indonesia police fire shots to disperse Ambon rally (28/04/02) #2825
REUTERS, Fri Apr 26, 2002 7:28 AM ET
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian police in the eastern city of Ambon wounded at least one person on Friday when they fired warning shots to keep a massive Muslim rally from spilling into the city's Christian areas, witnesses said.

Moluccas brace for more trouble
BBC World News, Friday, 26 April, 2002, 15:38 GMT 16:38 UK (28/04/02) #2824
Indonesia is worried a recent peace deal is still fragile. Hundreds of police reinforcements are being sent to the Moluccan islands in eastern Indonesia to prevent more violence, after a series of explosions undermined a shaky peace pact between Christians and Muslims.

Police dispatch troops, arrest 27 in Indonesia's Ambon city (28/04/02) #2823
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Friday April 26, 2002 3:35 PM
Hundreds of police reinforcements were dispatched to Indonesia's eastern city of Ambon after more explosions overnight, further undermining a shaky peace pact.

Indonesia deploys more police to troubled Maluku (28/04/02) #2822
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
, Friday, April 26, 2002
Jakarta, Indonesia beefed up security in the Maluku islands on Friday after fresh explosions which rocked the conflict-torn archipelago, one day after pro-independence supporters commemorated their movement's 52th anniversary.

Separatist Group Defies Indonesian State... (28/04/02) #2819
CNSNews, April 25, 2002
By Patrick Goodenough, Pacific Rim Bureau Chief
Pacific Rim Bureau (CNSNews.com) - Defying a government crackdown, a banned separatist group pressed ahead Thursday with provocative displays of a republican flag in Indonesia's Maluku province, where thousands have died in Christian-Muslim violence in recent years.

Bomb rocks Indonesia, injuring two (28/04/02) #2818
United Press International, 4/25/2002 3:15 AM
By Sukino Harisumarto, From the International Desk
JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 25 (UPI) -- An explosion rocked the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon on Thursday, injuring at least two people and damaging a church. The explosion fueled rising tension in the conflict-ravaged Moluccas islands as pro-independence supporters marked the 52th anniversary of the separatist movement.

Blasts, shots mar separatist group's anniversary in Ambon (28/04/02) #2817
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Thursday April 25, 2002 3:11 PM
Blasts and gunshots raised tensions in the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon as hundreds of loyalist Muslims staged a noisy protest against independence supporters flying flags to mark the 52nd anniversary of their outlawed separatist group.

Moluccan Muslims set fire to church (28/04/02) #2816
BBC World News, Thursday, 25 April, 2002, 11:04 GMT 12:04 UK
Muslim protesters in Indonesia's Moluccan islands have set fire to a Christian church as tension over a controversial anniversary mounted.

Separatists Celebrate Anniversary in Maluku, Indonesia (28/04/02) #2815
Xinhua News Agency, 2002-04-25 13:51:47
JAKARTA, April 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Indonesia's eastern province of Maluku was on tense Thursday as separatist supporters celebrated the 52nd anniversary of South Maluku Republic (RMS).

Moluccas separatist ceremony ends in violence (28/04/02) #2814
The Financial Times [UK], April 25 2002 16:51
By Tom McCawley in Jakarta
A mob torched a half-built church in the war-torn Moluccan islands in Indonesia on Thursday after a separatist flag-raising ceremony turned violent.
 


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