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 16, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS -- Report No. 328
1. RENEWED FLARE-UP OF VIOLENCE ON SERAM – Responding to the growing
mutual trust between the erstwhile conflicting parties, the Christians of the village of
Lokki, South coast of West-Seram island, decided to pave the way for returning to
their village. When on August 18, 1999, their village was attacked and devastated,
they had sought refuge at the not-far-off little town of Piru and been staying there
since then as IDP-s.
In the morning of last November 14, with permission of the Seram government
authorities, some 200 men from Lokki came to their village by sea in order to start
preparing the building site for houses and barracks to be constructed. However, their
coming seemed to have been misinterpreted by local Muslims (other reports declare
that local Muslims simply do not want the Lokkinese to rebuild their village).
Accompanying security forces fired warning shots to forestall a full-scale battle, they
even had to aim their firing directly at the attackers and thus caused three casualties
among them: one killed and two wounded.
2. CLAIMING LAND OWNERSHIP AT THE AIRPORT – The impressive upgrading of
Pattimura Airport at Laha, on the opposite side of the bay of Ambon, was resumed
when the unrest started to calm down. However, the residents of the village of Laha
claim ownership of the 145 Hectares that the government has added to the existing
airport. Since their claim has gone unanswered for some years already, the village
chief declared on local TV last night, that the villagers en masse will surround the
disputed area starting on Monday, November 18, however without interfering in normal
air traffic or in any way endangering it. The village of Laha demands the sum of about
35 billion rupiahs (about US$ 3,250,000.-) to be paid for the land.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
