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, December 27, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report No. 340
1. FOLLOW-UP OF THE BATUGAJAH INCIDENT " The incident in Batugajah we
mentioned in our latest report, took place at 8.00 p.m. on December 25. We have to
make an adjustment on this earlier report, namely: the culprit, who is known by name
(Simon Saiya) " according to the police " has not been caught yet and he has got 3 x
24 hours to give himself up at the Police. Contrarely, local newspaper "Ambon
Ekspress" (Muslim) today has a story that Christian young men from the Skip area
came down to Batugajah on two trucks to chase Simon Saiya; they got him and
would have killed him, had he not been saved by bystanders and security forces.
2. VISIT TO AMBON BY CHIEF OF STAFF " On Wednesday, December 25, Army
Chief of Staff General Ryamizard Ryacudu visited Ambon. On this occasion he stated
to journalists that any decision on prolongation of the civil emergency state must be
made by the Acting Governor.
He further said that now four battalions of 600 personnel each are stationed in the
Province of the North Moluccas, whereas five similar battalions are operating in the
Province of the Moluccas. He also confirmed that soldiers who are guilty of
misconduct, will be punished, but that this also applies to those who put forth any
false accusation towards military personnel.
He stated, too, that the RMS is still active in trying to separate the South Moluccas
from Indonesia.
3. TOWN COUNCIL TO RETURN TO ORIGINAL QUARTERS " As a reaction to the
bomb blast on the "California" motorboat on December 11, 2001, the Town's
Legislative Council Building in the Bekang Soya area was set on fire on the same day
(see Report 213). The building, which totally burned out, has been rebuilt now and will
function again starting on January 3, 2003.
4. GOVERNMENT WILL STOP AID TO IDP-s EARLY 2003 " According to Jakarta
based "Kompas" daily newspaper, Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf
Kalla declared on December 24 that the Indonesian Government will stop all
humanitarian aid to IDP-s in the Moluccas and the North Moluccas towards the end of
next February. He said that many refugees do not want to return because they then
will be deprived of the emergency aid they receive as long as they keep on staying in
de refugee camps.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
