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, July 3, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 298
1. WEAPONS HANDOVER IN KUDAMATI – In an official ceremony, residents of the
Christian Kudamati area, city of Ambon, handed over a large number of weapons and
ammunition on June 30, 2002. In his address to those present, military chief
commander Djoko Santoso expressed his appreciation of this proof of trust from the
side of the Christians in the preparedness of the security forces to uphold law and
order and to protect the civilians. June 30 was the very last day on which weaponry
could be handed over voluntarily without being prosecuted.
2. SWEEPING ON WEAPONRY – Sweeping on any illegal possession of weaponry
will go on. Though the assigned time for voluntary handing over of any weapons is over
now, it has not yet been decided upon whether any measures will be taken against
those who from now on decide to surrender their weapons voluntarily. The governor
himself seems to be inclined to let it pass without any juridical proceedings.
3. LASKAR JIHADS SAY GOOD-BYE TO DETAINED COMRADES – On July 1,
about forty Laskar Jihad members went up to the military police quarters (Pomdam
XVI Pattimura) in Ambon to say good-bye to their nine comrades that are in detention
there since the skirmish at Manggadua/Diponegoro last May 12 (see Reports
283-284). It seems that they were to return to Java. Their polite request that their nine
imprisoned friends should be released, was partly fulfilled insofar on July 2 for six of
them their detention was suspended.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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