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, March 21, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 472
1. UPHOLDING INDONESIAN TERRITORY - An additional battalion of military
personnel will be posted along the Moluccas South-East borders to prevent outlying
islands from being claimed by neighbouring countries, notably Australia and Timur
Leste. Moluccas Governor Karel Ralahalu said: "We have to be alert. We have to
keep the islands that we have secure, and not let them fall into the hands of other
countries. The current dispute between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur over the Ambalat
oil blocks should serve as a lesson". Special protection will be given to the islands of
Lirang and Kambing, also to the larger islands of Wetar, Yamdena and the Aru
archipel.
2. RAID ON WEAPONRY - Last March 18, police forces found a lot of weapons in the
village of Laha, and the nearby hamlets of Airmanis and Kampung Baru, island of
Ambon. "Liputan6.com" reports that 26 homemade rifles, one grenade, several
hundreds of bullets, 104 arrows and a number of spears were confiscated. Nobody
was arrested, since (according to a similar report in "Kompas" daily) "nobody was at
home".
3. CALL FOR WATCHFULNESS TOWARDS APRIL 25th - The local "Komite
Penyelamat Maluku" (Moluccas Rescue Committee) has called on the Muslim
community of Ambon and on the whole local population, not to let themselves be
provoked by any RMS activities in connection with the RMS's 55th anniversary next
April 25, but leave it to the police and brimob forces to deal with any irregularities in
this context. The Committee demanded the police to be vigilant lest unwanted
unlawful activities would take place.
4. PLANNED REBUILDING OF UKIM - The Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku
(UKIM) in the Talake area (Tanah Lapang Kecil, Ambon), having been destroyed
during the conflict in 2000 (Report 423), was again totally destroyed on April 26 last
year. UKIM Rector Professor Dr George Louhenapessy confirmed to the press that
the government will allocate 1,2 billion rupiahs (EUR 110.000,-) for reconstruction of
the campus. Other substantial financial support is to be expected from churches and
institutions in the Netherlands.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
