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 17, 2003
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS – Report No. 404
1. THE MANUPUTTY CASE – FKM Judicial leader Semmy Waeleruny declared to
Jakarta based KOMPAS newspaper that FKM leader Alex Manuputty's departure for
the USA was definitely not a flight (as we mentioned in Report 402), but was
sanctioned by the Indonesian Government. However – according to REPUBLIKA
newspaper – Waeleruny refused to tell which immigration office had issued the
passport. He said Alex Manuputty left for America on November 19, 2003, on the
invitation of a number of Human Rights Organizations in the USA. He said Alex had
been asked to hold lectures before students of several academies, and even to
address the UN next February with a declaration on the violation of Human Rights by
the Indonesian Government and on the South-Moluccas Independence (RMS) case.
He said Alex would not return to Indonesia unless he bringing with him independence
for the South Moluccas. No need to say that hardly anybody in the Moluccas is eager
to obtain this independence, on the contrary the overwhelming majority of the people
of the Moluccas opt for continuing to be part of the undivided Republic of Indonesia.
This whole situation is rather confusing. It was only known on November 21, 2003,
that Manuputty's and Waeleruny's appeal to a higher court had resulted in their
confinement term being increased from three years to four years. The highest court
meanwhile has refused to process the case. The chief prosecutor also said that
Manuputty's remand detention could legally have been extended to December 27,
2003, whereas in fact he, together with Waeleruny, was released on November 8. The
immigration office – he said – could (should?) technically have prohibited Manuputty
to leave for America. However, the Director General of the Immigration Office stated
that Manuputty could not possibly have left Indonesia via any Immigration office, since
he would never have been allowed to leave the country. Anyhow, the Immigration
Department will check out whether Manuputty actually is staying in the USA or not.
Islam leaders from various areas in Indonesia meanwhile have urged the Muslim
Leading Board (MUI) of Jakarta to take a stance towards the ambiguous bearing of the
government in letting Alex Manuputty go free whereas Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is being
kept in confinement.
2. VICE PRESIDENT VISITS AMBON – This morning Vice President Hamzah Haz
arrived in Ambon. Among his activities we mention a lecture before university students
and – in connection with the end of the Ramadhan Month – a Halal Bi Halal (mutual
forgiving) ceremony with the people.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
