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, January 2, 2003
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report No. 342
1. UNREST ON CERAM – Sometimes there arise conflicts between IDP-s and the
local population. This happened also in the Christian village of Kokroman, some 20
km East of Masohi on the South coast of the island of Ceram. Christian IDP-s, living
in barracks in that village, had a festivity in the evening or night of December 27, which
accompanied by music that was too noisy to the ears of some local residents.
Several times they came and asked to reduce the noise. At last one of the IDP-s,
probably drunk, got so furious that he attacked one of the complainers with a "parang"
(chopping-knife). The local RT (chief of the village neighbourhood), probably trying to
intervene, got killed and was even beheaded. Hereupon the local residents destroyed
the barracks. The about 60 IDP families fled for protection to the local police station.
2. NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION IN AMBON UNDISTURBED - New Year's
celebrations in Ambon went along with general rejoicing. Though any firework was
sternly prohibited by the police, nevertheless there was an unprecedented noise of
firecrackers all over the town. The authorities had deployed 2.700 soldiers and
policemen in order to guarantee a safe New Year's celebration.
3. GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH ACTING GOVERNOR SARUNDAYANG – The
Catholic community of the Cathedral Parish in Ambon was pleased to have Acting
Governor Sarundayang and his wife in their midst during Mass in the morning of
January 1, 2003. After Mass the Acting Governor explained to those present about his
mission in the Moluccas – not unlike we already described in earlier reports. New to
us was the fact that actually his principal occupation is his work as chief of the
General Inspectorate of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Jakarta. The Sarundayangs are
members of the Protestant Church (not Adventists as we mistakenly said in an earlier
report) and, like Msgr. P.C.Mandagi, come from North Sulawesi / Manado.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
