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THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 243 (28/02/02) #2438
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 28, 2002
END OF THE CONFLICT? – Several thousands of young men – both Muslim and
Christian – from the nearby little island of Haruku, specifically from the five villages
that together constitute the Hatuhala area, came to Ambon yesterday in perfect
accordance. Their large crowd went loudly singing songs of unity (“Satu Nusa Satu
Bangsa”) through the city of Ambon, disregarding any borders that separate Christian
from Muslim areas. Policemen and military joined them. Even the Police Chief
Commander joyfully walked arm in arm with them. Thus they went up to the governor,
who himself comes from Pelauw, one of those five villages. He was apparently moved
and said these – maybe – historical words: “Mula! i sekarang Ambon itu aman”,
which means: From now on Ambon is free from unrest. Only afterwards he seemed to
realize his perhaps too rashly spoken words and warned the thousands that stood in
front of him that they should take heed of any malevolent persons and that they
should start surrendering all weaponry. Nevertheless, he called them an example for
all, and hoped that many others would follow in their wake.
Indonesia - Complex emergency situation report #1 (FY 2002) (28/02/02) #2434
US Agency for International Development (USAID), Date: 26 Feb 2002
For many decades, Indonesia has experienced religious conflict and ethnic violence in
several regions of the country. Since 1999, serious conflict and population
displacement have occurred in the Moluccas, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Aceh, Timor,
and Papua (formerly known as Irian Jaya), exacerbated by Indonesia's political and
economic crises. Conflict in each of these regions also has been fueled by
resentments stemming from Indonesia's now-abandoned transmigration policy, which
increased tensions between local populations and transmigrants relocated from
overcrowded to less populated areas. Other contributing factors to the conflict include
separatist movements, a lack of resource distribution, and real or perceived social
inequities in past government policies. A summary of the current humanitarian
situation in the more volatile regions of Indonesia is provided below.
Lee Kuan Yew brings the pot to boil (28/02/02) #2431
Asia Times (atimes.com), February 26, 2002
By Bill Guerin
JAKARTA - Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founder and so-called "elder statesman", has
handed Indonesia a cause on a plate. Seen by the Indonesians as Uncle Sam's voice
in the Asia-Pacific, Singapore has had a rocky relationship with its worrying neighbor
ever since konfrontasi, way back in the mid-'60s.
Civil servant shot in fresh violence in Ambon (26/02/02) #2421
The Jakarta Post, February 26, 2002
Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
At least one person was shot on Monday in the capital of Maluku province, Ambon, in
the first spate of serious violence in the province since the Malino peace accord was
signed earlier this month by members of the local warring factions. Buce Sapteno, a
40-year-old civil servant, was the first victim of violence since the pact was signed on
Feb. 12 in the South Sulawesi hill resort of Malino in Gowa regency.
TERROR GROWS IN ASIA (26/02/02) #2415
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Sunday, February 24, 2002
U.S. Special Forces aiding Philippine troops in their battle against Islamic guerillas
won't have far to go should America turn its attention to another Asian terror base:
Indonesia.
Indonesia should rethink conspiracy theory (26/02/02) #2414
The Korea Herald, February 25, 2002
By Derwin Pereira, The Straits Times Asia NewsNetwork
JAKARTA - Five hundred years ago, the mediaeval philosopher William of Occam
came up with an important principle that underlies all scientific modeling and
theory-building today.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 242 (25/02/02) #2413
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 25, 2002
SHOOTING IN GALUNGGUNG – Disregarding the Governor’s advice not rashly to
yield to excessive optimism by entering the "territories" of one another, a bus with
Christian government employees this morning passed through the Muslim
neighbourhood of Galunggung at the East end of the city. Unexpectedly their bus was
shot at, resulting in the driver being seriously injured.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 241 (25/02/02) #2411
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 24, 2002
INACCURATE REPORTING BY JAKARTA POST – On Friday 15, 2002, English
language "Jakarta Post" daily newspaper, based on information provided by "Antara"
News Agency – a usually trustworthy source – published a startling report on the
immediate aftermath of the recent Muslim-Christian meeting in Malino.
Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 64 (25/02/02) #2410
15-21 February 2002
MALUKU * The general situation in Maluku is relatively calm following the signing of
the peace agreement in Malino, South Sulawesi, last week. However, there was initial
reaction from hardliner Muslims last Thursday (14 Feb.) protesting against the Muslim
delegates upon their return from the talks. Stones were thrown at the car carrying the
delegates but no casualties were reported.
NORTH MALUKU * OCHA Ternate visited three IDP camps that are sheltering 8,365
IDPs in Manado and Bitung, North Sulawesi, on 16-17 February 2002, to hold
discussion with the IDPs regarding their return to North Maluku. There are believed to
be over 40,000 displaced persons from North Maluku living in camps and private
homes in North Sulawesi.
Govt to take time to lift Maluku emergency (25/02/02) #2409
The Jakarta Post, February 23, 2002
Annastashya Emmanuelle and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government sees no urgency in lifting the state of civil emergency in Maluku
despite the recent peace accord signed by the two warring groups there, a top
security official has said.
Bin Laden's bid to turn Muslim against Muslim (25/02/02) #2400
The Financial Times, February 21 2002 17:22GMT
By FT writers
The tailor's assistant at the Muridke clothes shop had hurriedly hidden the military
jackets in which he had once done a roaring trade with jihadis on their way to fight in
Afghanistan. In their place were women's clothes, which will sell less readily but
certainly will not bring him trouble.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 240 (22/02/02) #2399
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 22, 2002
"SOCIALISATION" OF THE MOLUCCAS CONFLICT – Though having a belated start
in comparison to the Christians, the Muslim delegates to the recent reconciliation
meeting in Malino now have also begun their series of clarification meetings on the
Eleven-Items Maluku Agreement, though under much more strained circumstances,
for it can be perceived that among the Muslims, more than among the Christians, not
everybody is ready to comply to the agreement. Clarification on the Maluku
Agreement was done on February 19 in the neighbourhoods of Kapaha and
Batumerah, Ambon, by among others Thamrin Ely, the leader of the Muslim
delegation to Malino. Military Chief Commander Mustopo declared to the press that
socialisation will be carried out notwithstanding any opposing forces. Opponents are
to be regarded as mutual enemies.
Reconciliation. A Cool Breeze to Maluku (22/02/02) #2398
TEMPO Magazine, No. 24/II/February 19 - 25, 2002
The Meeting for Maluku in the hilly hamlet of Malino ends successfully. But in the
face of the myriad challenges in the strife-torn islands, it may well take a year to
canvass the peace accord.
Japan helps displaced Indonesians (22/02/02) #2394
The Jakarta Post, February 22, 2002
JAKARTA: Japan has agreed to provide US$ 2.4 million under its Trust Fund for
Human Security program to support the relocation of internally displaced people in
Maluku, North Maluku and Aceh.
Jihad in another Indonesian province? (21/02/02) #2391
Separatists claim military supports group that slaughters Christians
WorldNetDaily, Wednesday, February 20, 2002
Muslim extremist group Laskar Jihad held its first rally in the volatile Indonesian
province of Aceh Feb. 18, despite opposition from the separatist Free Aceh
Movement, or GAM. Laskar Jihad said the rally was simply a routine visit, and
although it may have been part of a recruiting effort, the event garnered an audience of
only 100.
Divided community (21/02/02) #2389
ABC, 13/02/2002
Maluku's capital Ambon has been described as a 'tropical Beirut'. The phrase
highlights the challenges ahead for the region's religious leaders, with their
newly-signed peace deal. The 11-point agreement commits representatives of the
islands' Christian and Muslim communities 'to halt all form of conflicts and disputes'.
Assistance for IDP in Indonesia by the Trust Fund... (21/02/02) #2385
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, February 20, 2002
On February 14 (Thursday), the Government of Japan and the United Nations (UN)
decided to extend the total of 2,437,159-dollar assistance through the Trust Fund for
Human Security to the projects to be implemented by United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). These projects will
support Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Indonesia for their resettlement in North
Maluku, Maluku, and Aceh provinces.
Kuwait plans to invest two billion dollars in Indonesia... (21/02/02) #2384
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Wednesday February 20, 2002 6:11 PM
JAKARTA, Feb 20 (AFP) - Visiting Kuwaiti Finance Minister Yousif al-Ibrahim said
Wednesday his country plans to invest two billion dollars in various development
projects in Indonesia, the state Antara news agency reported..... Kuwait will also
rebuild 10 villages destroyed by sectarian unrest and recent floods in the provinces of
Maluku, Central Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara and on Madura island.
The Spice Islands' legacy of violence (20/02/02) #2383
Asia Times (atimes.com), February 15, 2002
By Bill Guerin
JAKARTA - Ambon, the capital of the province of the Moluccas Islands, or Maluku to
Indonesians and the Spice Islands to romantics, has been the setting for three years
of inter-religious violence. More than 10,000 have died unholy deaths and thousands
more, mostly Muslims, have fled the conflict for South Sulawesi.
Explosions rock Ambon a day after peace deal signed (20/02/02) #2382
THE STRAITS TIMES, February 15, 2002
JAKARTA - A series of blasts rocked Ambon a day after a peace pact was signed by
the warring Muslim and Christian camps, drawing condemnation from Indonesian
Vice-President Hamzah Haz yesterday.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 239 (20/02/02) #2379
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 20, 2002
GPP REPORT – We received a report (in Indonesian, of course) from the Christian
GPP / Concerned Women's Movement and its expenditure during 2000 and 2001, of
which we herewith present a summary for those who might be interested in it:
Police wants Maluku civil emergency lifted (20/02/02) #2377
The Jakarta Post, Feb 20, 2002
Yogita Tahilramani and Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Ambon
The National Police have suggested that President Megawati Soekarnoputri lift the
civilian state of emergency in the strife-torn provinces of Maluku and North Maluku.
The state of emergency have been in effect in the two provinces for nearly two years
now.
Police to request lifting of civil emergency status... (20/02/02) #2376
The Jakarta Post, 2/19/2002 9:52:07 PM
JAKARTA (JP): The National Police have suggested that President Megawati
Soekarnoputri lift the civilian state of emergency in the strife-torn provinces of Maluku
and North Maluku.
Military cautious over Laskar Jihad's arrival in Aceh (20/02/02) #2374
The Jakarta Post, 2/19/2002 3:58:33 PM
JAKARTA (JP): Chief of the Iskandar Muda Military Command, which oversees
Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province, Brig. Gen. M. Djali Yusuf, said on Tuesday that
the military will act with caution in light of the arrival of Laskar Jihad Muslim members
in the province.
Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 63 (20/02/02) #2370
08-15 February 2002
MALUKU * On 7 February, Porta Village on Saparua Island was attacked by a group
of men believed to be Muslims from the nearby village of Kulur. The armed attackers
were repealed by the villagers and security forces. Two of the attackers were killed.
NORTH MALUKU * USAID-OTI and OCHA Ternate went on mission to Jailolo, Sahu
and Ibu sub-district, on 14-15 February 2002, to assess rehabilitation needs and
monitor construction of shelters funded through USAID-OTI assistance to returnee
program.
Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 62 (20/02/02) #2369
01- 08 February 2002
NORTH MALUKU * ICRC distributed 6 standard health kits from WHO to Ternate City
hospital and two main hospitals in Tobelo. ICRC also distributed 15 dispensary kits to
various health centres (puskesmas) in Kao and Malifut and 12 dispensary kits were
distributed to several health centers and units in Central Halmahera district.
MALUKU * The Coordinating Minister for People's welfare Yusuf Kalla visited Ambon
on Tuesday, (5 Feb) to meet with Government and community leaders in preparation
for the first round of formal talks to take place on 11-12 February in Makassar. Media
reported that in relation to the event, the government will deploy 500 security
personnel to the area. The Ambon Express on Saturday (2 Feb) listed some of the
issues to be raised by the warring communities. Both communities demand that the
Government investigate the causes of the conflict. The Muslims' demands also
include a call on the government to investigate the presence of the RMS (Republic of
South Maluku) movement, an acknowledgement that the Laskar Jihad is involved in
social and religious sectors, and that the Muslims retain control of the areas they are
currently occupying. The Christians maintain that the RMS issue is an option only if
the Government is incapable of resolving the conflict and that the Laskar Jihad should
leave Maluku.
Ending violence top priority after Malino accord: Crouch (19/02/02) #2368
The Jakarta Post, Feb 19, 2002
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Security fears remain the most crucial problem facing both Muslims and Christians in
Maluku after the signing of the Malino peace accord last week, an observer says. To
deal with the insecurity, the government has to seek all possible avenues to make
sure that no more violence will flare up there, Harold Crouch of the International Crisis
Group (ICG) told a discussion at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
(CSIS) here.
Security tightened in Ambon (19/02/02) #2367
ABC, 16/02/2002 00:08:53
Indonesian police have tightened security in Ambon, the eastern Malukus main city,
as Muslim and Christian leaders start a peace campaign aimed at ending three years
of violence that has killed thousands of people.
Planned rally by Muslim hardliners flops in Indonesia's Aceh (19/02/02) #2364
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Monday February 18, 2002 7:55 PM
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia, Feb 18 (AFP) - Plans by a paramilitary Islamic group to
hold its first mass rally in Indonesia's Aceh province flopped Monday, following strong
objections from separatist rebels and other Acehnese. Laskar Jihad chief Jaffar Umar
Thalib took over the podium at the main Baiturrahman mosque in the provincial capital
Banda Aceh following late afternoon prayers, witnesses said.
Terrorist leaders still at large in Indonesia: Singapore's Lee (19/02/02) #2362
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Monday February 18, 2002 11:31 AM
Singapore remains at risk from a terrorist attack because leaders of regional extremist
cells are still at large in Indonesia, Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew said. The Straits
Times reported Monday that the former prime minister, speaking at a community
gathering, likened terrorist groups to multinational corporations with a presence in
several countries.
Indonesian militant Muslim group refuses to leave Malukus... (18/02/02) #2359
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Wednesday February 13, 3:23 PM
JAKARTA (AFP) - A paramilitary Muslim group which had waged a "holy war" against
Christians in the Malukus said it would not leave the eastern islands despite the
signing of a pact to end three years of sectarian bloodshed there. Christian and
Muslim leaders from Maluku on Tuesday signed an agreement at Malino to end the
violence, which has claimed some 5,000 lives. It stipulates that outside forces should
withdraw.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 238 (18/02/02) #2357
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 17, 2002
A NINE MONTHS' TERM TO END THE CONFLICT – In accordance to the
suggestion of the Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono during his visit to the Moluccas on January 26-27, 2002, the local
government wishes to hold on a period of nine months to restore an atmosphere of
tranquillity in the Moluccas. Apart from all other funds that have already been granted
or promised, the central Government in Jakarta has set aside additional funds
amounting to the impressive sum of 300 billion rupiahs (equalling about US$
30,000,000.- or Eur 33.700.000,-), especially for mental and physical rehabilitation
during this period.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 237 (15/02/02) #2356
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 15, 2002
Afterwards, in the muslim neighbourhood of Waihaong, the car of caretaking MUI
chairman Haji Kyai Polpoke, one of the delegates, was thrown at with stones twice,
shattering some of its windowpanes. Asked by reporters about this incident, the
leader of the Muslim delegation, Thamrin Ely, said that it was just normal that not
everybody immediately could wholeheartedly subscribe the Malino agreement.
No Peace Without Justice in Maluku (15/02/02) #2355
Since January 2002, the Indonesian Foreign Minister has issued a declaration
forbidding any fax to be sent from the Moluccas to the international World.
He stated that this measure was taken because there were some group in the
Moluccas that through the use of faxes has abused Indonesian good name and
reputation on the international field.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 236 (15/02/02) #2352
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 10, 2002
REGRETTING THE MALINO AGREEMENT – The Central Leading Board of the
Forum Komunikasi Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah at Yogyakarta gives permission to
copy (if needed partially) from their BLJ (Laskar Jihad Bulletin) 6th edition. So here we
go (translation of excerpts).
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 235 (15/02/02) #2351
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, "Peace at last" appeared to be the fervent wish
of both the Muslim and the Christian delegations during their meeting in Malino.
Yesterday, February 12, 2002, is apt to become a memorable day for the Moluccas,
because it is the day the Muslims, the Christians and the Government agreed to end
the strife and come to terms one with another.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 233 & 234 (15/02/02)
#2350
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 10, 2002
The combined Christian Churches in Ambon have sent out a letter urging all christians
to partake in this supreme effort to end the conflict, among other things by
maintaining unity and refraining from any violence among themselves, on the contrary
enhancing mutual care and attention.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 232 (15/02/02) #2349
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 06, 2002
The meeting in Malino is scheduled to start on February 11, 2002. Minister Kalla
urged the participants to do their utmost to have this meeting succeed. If not, the
Moluccas will go on destroying itself and ultimately become the least of all Provinces
in Indonesia in matters of education, health and people's welfare.
Kontras wants BIN chief removed (08/02/02) #2345
The Jakarta Post, Feb 08, 2002
JAKARTA: The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras)
demanded on Thursday that the government remove A.M. Hendropriyono from his post
as chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) because of the gross human rights
violations he allegedly committed in the 1989 Talangsari incident in Lampung.
The full transcript of MALUKU: Ambon "a tropical Beirut" (07/02/02) #2338
ABC, 06/02/2002 13:57:51
One of the legacies of Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia is that the Netherlands has a
significant population of people who originally hail from Maluku, the troubled region of
Eastern Indonesia, formerly known as the Spice Islands. Many people from Maluku
migrated to the Netherlands in the 1950s, most were Christians and most were the
families of soldiers in the Dutch colonial army. The community has taken a close
interest in the violence between Christians and Muslims that has plagued Maluku in
recent years. One such person, the director of the Maluku Historical Museum in the
Netherlands, has just visited Ambon, which he describes as a tropical Beirut.
MALUKU: Ambon "a tropical Beirut" (06/02/02) #2334
ABC, 5/02/2002
One of the legacies of Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia is that the Netherlands has a
significant population of people who originally hail from Maluku, the troubled region of
Eastern Indonesia, formerly known as the Spice Islands. Many people from Maluku
migrated to the Netherlands in the 1950s, most were Christians and most were the
families of soldiers in the Dutch colonial army. The community has taken a close
interest in the violence between Christians and Muslims that has plagued Maluku in
recent years. One such person, the director of the Maluku Historical Museum in the
Netherlands, has just visited Ambon, which he describes as a tropical Beirut.
Click here for Abstract of the paper presented by the speaker, Dr. Wim Manuhutu in
the seminar "Mediating Human Rights and Democracy: Indonesia, Australia and the
Netherlands" in Curtin University of Technology, Perth.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 231 (06/02/02) #2333
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 01, 2002
NORTH MOLUCCAS WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE – During a meeting on national
level of the Governors of the Provinces of Indonesia, caretaking Governor of the
Province of the North Moluccas A.M.Effendie, when on January 30 interviewed by the
press in Jakarta, declared that the reconciliation process in the North Moluccas is
underway without any interference of the national Government. Our reconciliation team
– he said – consists of 391 members. The reconciliation process is taking place among the
civilians in a spontaneous, natural way; there are no VIPs and no underdogs, there is
no need of people wearing ties neither of luxury hotels, no bargaining around the table.
I do not allow anybody to call himself a "reconciliator". I hope the Government will
refrain from any interfering in this natural reconciliation process – he said.
Response to the SBS Dateline programme (05/02/02) #2326
Many of you in Australia may have seen the SBS programme that featured the conflict
in Central Sulawesi. I was in email contact with the reporter of the programme before
it went to air so I was interested to see the result. In summary, as far as the secular
media goes, I felt it was a fair representation of the events in Central Sulawesi. For me
the most touching part was watching and hearing those kids sing and pray in the
Christmas Service in the burnt out shell of the church. Of concern to some Christian
viewers however would have been the report of a massacre of 63 Muslims by
Christians that took place in May 2000.
Indonesia and the 'War on Terrorsim' (05/02/02) #2325
As reported in my last update (17.01.02), the expanded war on terrorism looks set
sooner or later to find its way to Indonesia. Already the United States military are
active in the Southern Phillipines to train the Philippine army in rounding up Islamic
militants and there has been talk of extending the attention to Indonesia. Journalist
Chris McCall reporting from Ternate in North Maluku tells of the reverence held for
Osama Bin Laden in what is now a 100% Islamised area of Nth Maluku, since the
Christians were either killed or fled from the area.
LASKAR JIHAD IS THE INDONESIAN AL QAEDA! (1 & 2) (04/02/02) #2323
What really is "laskar jihad"? Is it connected to Al Qaeda? Why does it seem to be
protected by Indonesia's government? What is the "laskar mujahidin"? Are these two
laskars related? Do they have relationship with Al Qaeda? Are they connected to the
other international terrorism network? In fact they are in Maluku fighting Christians and
Indonesia's government seem to justify their actions and let the mystery of the former
RMS (Republic of South Maluku) hang in the air to cover their nastiness in there.
Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 61 (04/02/02) #2321
25 January - 01 February 2002
MALUKU * Reconciliation talks between Christians and Muslims facilitated by the
Central Government took place last week in Ambon. Leaders from both sides met
again on Wednesday (30 Jan) in Makassar to work out the agenda for another
meeting on 11-12 February. Heavy gunfire and bombs blasts were heard last Saturday
night (26 Jan) in the Kebun Cengkeh and Karang Panjang area in Ambon. The
disturbance was brought under control by the security forces in Karang Panjang. The
next morning a crowd of about 350 people, some armed with rifles and machetes,
staged a demonstration in the Muslim sector of Ambon apparently protesting the
action of the military the night before. No further details are available but the motive of
both incidents appeared to be an attempt by certain quarters to derail the
reconciliation talks.
NORTH MALUKU * The Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono while on a three day working visit to Maluku and North Maluku
provinces, from 25 to 27 January 2002, said the Government would process the
decision whether or not to amend the security level from Civil Emergency to Civil
Order in the province this week. If returned to civil order, provisions will be made for
the local chief executive to have the proper authority, power and assistance from the
security officers. Meanwhile, the Commander of Regional Military Command of
Maluku, Mustopo (as reported on "Kantor Berita 68 H " radio station on 30 January)
stated that in spite of the plans, TNI will not withdraw its troops from the provinces
before assuring that security condition gets back to normal. He added that there were
four thousand soldiers deployed in both places and that the probability of new security
disruption occurring in both restive Maluku and North Maluku is still very high.
TERNATE AND TOBELO. Settling the war of God and gold (04/02/02) #2320
Uneasy peace in the Moluccas
The Economist, Thursday January 31st 2002
ACCORDING to Benny Doro, he was appointed commander of North Maluku's
Christian army by God. He says he once saw Jesus Christ soaring like a bird above
him while he was fighting Muslims. He caught a bullet in his hand. The 50-year-old
commander, whose real name is Bernard Bitjara-his adopted name Doro is the name
of his village-accepts that he is a sinner, although not, it seems, for killing so many
people that he has lost count, but for having two wives. God punished him, he says:
one wife and their four children were lost when a ship carrying Christians sank.
Maluku Peace Talks Delayed (04/02/02) #2319
Laksamana.Net, February 1, 2002 07:11 PM
Laksamana.Net - Peace talks between warring Christians and Muslims in the Maluku
islands have been postponed until after Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs Jusuf
Kalla visits next week.
Indonesia to delay peace talks in Moluccas (04/02/02) #2318
REUTERS, Friday February 1, 2002 6:16 PM
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia said on Friday it will delay peace talks between
feuding Christians and Muslims in the ravaged Moluccas islands until after a
government minister visits next week.
Maluku meeting postponed until middle of February (04/02/02) #2317
The Jakarta Post, Feb 2, 2002
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): The government-sanctioned reconciliation meeting
between Maluku Muslims and Christians that was scheduled for Feb. 5 through Feb.
7 has been postponed until the middle of the month to give more time for the two
warringfactions to disseminate information about the meeting's substance to their
supporters, says a senior government official.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 230 (01/02/02) #2312
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, January 31, 2002 (2nd Report)
1. THE WARRING PARTIES SET FOR TALKS NEXT WEEK – Since the meeting of
the Moluccas opposing parties that is planned to take place in Malino next week may
be of paramount significance for the future of the Moluccas, we intend to report on it
more elaborately than we usual do. The following report has been summarized from
"Jakarta Post” daily, January 31, 2002.
Maluku peace talks set for next week (01/02/02) #2310
The Jakarta Post, Feb 1, 2002
Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar
Government negotiators met separately with Muslim and Christian leaders on
Wednesday in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar as part of efforts to end years
of sectarian fighting in the Maluku islands, which has left some 6,000 people dead.
Australia's Worst Nightmare (01/02/02) #2308
Laksamana.Net, January 30, 2002 01:34 PM
January 30, 2002 01:34 PM, By Scott Burchill
Laksamana.Net - When US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz announced
recently that “going after al-Qaeda in Indonesia is not something that should wait
until after al-Qaeda has been uprooted from Afghanistan”, a shiver must have gone up
the collective spine of Australia's foreign policy elite.
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