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THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 252 (28/03/02) #2545
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, March 28, 2002
SUMMONED TO JAKARTA – On March 26, Governor M.S.Latuconsina was
unexpectedly called to Jakarta to meet with the Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The Governor, who is accompanied by the
military chief commander, the police chief commander and several other high
functionaries, had a four-hours meeting with the Minister yesterday. A planned visit to
Ambon by Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs Jusuf Kalla, has been postponed
twice already.
Malino II must be bolsteredby presidential decree (27/03/02) #2541
ANTARA, Monday, March 25, 2002 10:08:07 AM
Ambon - The 11-point Malino II accord on Maluku reached in Malino, South Sulawesi,
on February 12, needs to be bolstered by Presidential Decree for a legal binding
effect, chairman of the National Student Movement (GMNI), Ambon chapter, Benhur G
Watubun said.
Australia, US renew military ties with killing machine (27/03/02) #2538
Green Left Weekly, March 27, 2002
BY MAX LANE
Almost every day, details of the murder of Acehnese civilians by Indonesian military
forces are reported by democratic and human rights organisations and international
news agencies. At least 300 killings have been reported since January. More than
10,000 Acehnese have been killed in the last two decades.
Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 68 (26/03/02) #2537
15-22 March 2002
MALUKU * UNDP in Tual, South East Maluku, reported that the residents of Evu
Village cut off water supply to Tual city area since 13 March and held a demonstration
to demand the agreed payment of government compensation for the supply of piped
water from their land to the city area, which has been established since 1974.
NORTH MALUKU * The Central Halmahera District Parliament (DPRD II) agreed on
Tuesday (19 Mar.) for the creation of a new district, East Halmahera. This decision is
subject to approvals from the Provincial Parliament (DPRD I), the Ministry of Home
Affairs, and the President. A recent decision by the Provincial Parliament for the
division of the North Maluku District into five districts is still waiting approval from the
national parliament DPR, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the President.
Papua church, local leaders reject Java-based (26/03/02) #2536
Muslim militants
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Thursday March 21, 2002 4:48 PM
JAKARTA, March 21 (AFP) - Church and community leaders in Papua have called on
a Muslim militant group to leave the mainly Christian Indonesian province, saying it is
trying to stir up trouble, according to a human rights group Thursday.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 251 (22/03/02) #2530
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, March 21, 2002
INVESTIGATION TEAM ON VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS – On March 20,
2002, a joint team was established by the Governor as the Civil Emergency
Administrator in order to investigate on the enforcing of justice in numerous cases of
violation of human rights and common law in the Moluccas, that up to now have not
sufficiently been paid attention to. This team is composed of members of the military
and police forces and civilians. Leader of the team is Police Research Chief John
Tangkudung.
Pentagon wants to send troops to Indonesia (22/03/02) #2529
Officials say al-Qaeda members regrouping there
USA TODAY, Wednesday, March 20, 2002
By Jonathan Weisman USA TODAY
WASHINGTON -- Armed with evidence that al-Qaeda members have fled from
Afghanistan to Indonesia, Bush administration officials are pressing to get U.S. forces
into the giant archipelago.
Indonesia: A haven for al Qaeda? (22/03/02) #2528
CNN, March 20, 2002 Posted: 10:45 AM EST (1545 GMT)
By Maria Ressa, CNN Jakarta Bureau Chief
(CNN) -- A surveillance videotape found in what the U.S. military calls an al Qaeda
safehouse in Afghanistan shows, what authorities say, the reach of a Singapore
terrorist cell.
Laskar Jihad on Maluku, Separatism & bin Laden (21/03/02) #2525
Laksamana.Net, March 20, 2002 09:12 AM
Laksamana.Net - Laskar Jihad chairman Jafar Umar Thalib continues to deny any
links with Osama bin Laden, saying his organization's only goals are to propagate
Islamic teachings and maintain the unity of the Republic of Indonesia.
Is Ja'far Umar Another Osama bin Laden? (21/03/02) #2524
TEMPO Magazine No. 28/II/March 19 - 25, 2002
The New York Times has asserted that Ja'far Umar Thalib is every bit as dangerous
as Osama bin Laden. Is this going too far?
Ja'far Umar Thalib: "I'm offended by these allegations" (21/03/02) #2523
TEMPO Magazine No. 28/II/March 19 - 25, 2002
The offices of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah Communications Forum in
Cempakaputih, Central Jakarta, have a somewhat eerie feel about them. Every visitor
is met by two or three men of similar appearance—bearded, and wearing peci (Muslim
hats) and baggy trousers. They don't appear to like smiling. As if entering a military
base, they demand to know the guest's business, check his identity card and require
him to sign the visitor's book. In Bahasa Indonesia
Government Defends Trio Linked to Terrorism (21/03/02) #2521
Laksamana.Net, March 20, 2002 05:55 AM
Laksamana.Net - The government has spoken out in support of three Indonesians
detained in the Philippines last week for alleged links to Osama bin Laden's terrorism
network Al-Qaeda. Two of the suspects have been linked to major political parties.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Laskar Jihad (20/03/02) #2519
CENTER FOR DEFENSE INFORMATION, March 8, 2002
Indonesian militant group Laskar Jihad has regularly received attention over the past
two years for their unrelenting attacks on Christian populations on the islands of
Moluccas and Sulawesi. More recently, the Muslim organization has been scrutinized
for its possible links with other international terrorist groups such as al Qaeda.
Muslim scholars warn 'syariah' revivalism (20/03/02) #2518
The Jakarta Post, March 20, 2002
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Religious scholars expressed concern on Monday over mounting efforts by devout
Muslims to demand the imposition of syariah (Islamic law) in their respective regions
throughout the country.
Indonesia - Britain holds Conflict Resolution seminar (20/03/02) #2517
The Jakarta Post, 19 March 2002
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Defense in cooperation with the British Embassy held
here on Tuesday a one-day seminar on conflict resolution, featuring civilian experts
and security figures from both countries.
Traditional ruler has answer for Malukus' ills - more tradition (19/03/02) #2515
South China Morning Post, Monday, March 18, 2002
CHRIS MCCALL
On a historic tropical island, a man who speaks fluent English and sports a
well-groomed goatee beard lives in a palace, waited on by courtiers who always keep
their heads lower than his. For Mudaffar Sjah, the 48th Sultan of Ternate, such quaint
anachronisms may hold something of deep value to Indonesia which past regimes
have neglected. Tradition.
Indonesia government bans Australian journalist (18/03/02) #2512
ABC 18/03/2002 13:49:59
The Indonesian Government has banned an Australian journalist reporting from
Indonesia. The correspondent for the Age and the Sydney Morning Herald
newspapers, Lindsay Murdoch has been refused an extension of his journalists visa.
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European (18/03/02) #2508
Union on the peace agreement signed in Malino - South Sulawesi -
on 12 February 2002
Internet: http://ue.eu.int/Newsroom
E-mail: press.office@consilium.eu.int
Brussels, 11 March 2002
The European Union welcomes the formal peace talks that took place in Malino -
South Sulawesi –on 11-12 February between representatives of the Christian and
Muslim communities of the Moluccas, and the subsequent 11-point declaration to end
all violence in Moluccas, signed on 12 February.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 250 (18/03/02) #2507
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, March 17, 2002
Three years of bloody Maluku Conflicts leave nothing but Disaster
On Masariku Network we read the following report on some highlights of the three
years’ conflict in the Moluccas, as published by "The Jakarta Post" daily newspaper
on January 19, 2002. The responsible reporters are Edith Hartanto and Oktavianus
Pinontoan. Please notice that parts of this summary are rather Christian-oriented and
that is was written prior to the Moluccas Agreement of Malino.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 249 (18/03/02) #2506
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, March 16, 2002
DOING AWAY WITH ALTERNATIVE OFFICES – Town Mayor M.J. Papilaya
declared that the time has come to do away with alternative government offices in
Ambon. During the conflict most government services to the public were split up in
one for muslims and another for christians.
Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 67 (18/03/02) #2505
08-14 March 2002
MALUKU * The general situation has been relatively calm in Maluku this week with no
significant security problem spiralling within the communities. Christians and Muslims
continue to cross borders although with more caution.
NORTH MALUKU * Following the election for a Provincial Governor by the North
Maluku Provincial parliament (DPRD I) on last Thursday (7 Mar) in Ternate, a lawyer
for the parliament, Mr. Hendra Kariangan, said on Saturday (9 Mar) that the
Parliament would await a month for the central government to endorse the result of the
election.
Dilemmas for Indonesian Muslims in U.S. (18/03/02) #2504
The Jakarta Post, March 16, 2002
Djoko Susilo, Legislator, Jakarta
The aftermath of the Sept. 11 tragedy in the U.S. continues, and Indonesian Muslims
in the U.S. are among those adjusting to the reality.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 248 (14/03/02) #2503
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, March 14, 2002
SURRENDERING WEAPONRY – The voluntary surrendering of weaponry by groups and
neighbourhoods – both Muslim and Christian – is taking place according to what was
hoped for.
Indonesian Muslim militant denies his radio station... (14/03/02) #2502
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Wednesday March 13, 2002 3:05 PM
JAKARTA, March 13 (AFP) - The leader of an Islamic paramilitary force which has
waged "holy war" against Christians in Indonesia's Maluku islands denied Wednesday
that its radio broadcasts are aimed at destroying a recent peace pact. Jaafar Umar
Thalib, commander of Laskar Jihad (holy war force), said his group's radio station --
The Voice of The Muslim Struggle in Maluku -- was set up to balance "local press
reports in the Malukus which are always unbalanced and always disparage Muslims."
Reconciliation in North Maluku (14/03/02) #2500
World Vision International, March 12, 2002
by Mira Renata, World Vision Communications
Galela, North Maluku- The remnants of two-years of religions-based social conflict
remains imprinted in North Maluku's landscape. But reconciliation between North
Maluku's Christians and Muslims residents is helping to rehabilitate the area.
"In peace, the children bury their fathers; in war, ... (14/03/02) #2499
TEMPO, No. 27/II/March 12 - 18, 2002
On the streets of the city of Ambon, those living that day, whether Muslim or
Christian, embracing, crying, happy to be making peace, essentially buried something
that had become an integral part of their life stories: a past. They wanted to lay to rest
memory cloyed with blood and revenge of the previous three years: memory of three
years of civil war, three years that wiped out 8,000 people, destroyed countless
buildings, and made daily life a misery. In short: three years that killed hope and
buried the seed of the future. As the saying goes, it is peace, not war, that knows
how important the future is.
FBI director to visit Indonesia for talks on terror (14/03/02) #2498
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Wednesday March 13, 2002 5:53 PM
The director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will visit
Indonesia this week for two days of talks with senior officials on combating terrorism.
Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 66 (13/03/02) #2497
01-08 March 2002
MALUKU * Four Christians were injured when some people, in front of the Al Fatah
Mosque, attacked a motorcade of hundreds of Muslims and Christians who were
parading throughout the roads of Ambon City to celebrate the Malino II Peace
Agreement on Saturday (2 Mar.). Almost 70 Christians were trapped in a shopping
mall for four hours in a Muslim area during the confusion that ensued from the attack.
They were later escorted safely back to the Christian area by the police. The
authorities accused radical groups of being behind the attack but did not specify
them. On 4 -5 Mar. a group of women from Baguala Sub-district demonstrated against
the peace agreement. Despite the disruption, the communities seemed to continue
moving toward peace, albeit at a more cautious pace.
NORTH MALUKU * Eleven national legislators met with youth and community leaders
from Sula Islands, North Halmahera, and South Halmahera, on Saturday (02 March) in
Ternate. The meeting discussed the decision by the legislative body to approve a bill
for the creation of new districts-North Halmahera, West Halmahera, South Halmahera
and Sula Islands. The existing Central Halmahera District and Ternate Municipality
will remain as they are. (Zoom in to see map clearly).
Peace elusive in Maluku despite accord (11/03/02) #2491
The Jakarta Post, 11 March 2002
Octavianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Peace remains elusive in Maluku province as a number of militant groups continue to
oppose the Malino peace accord, which was mediated by the government last month
to end the three-year-old sectarian conflict.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 247 (08/03/02) #2482
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, March 5, 2002
DEFENDERS OF THE SPMM – At 10.00 a.m. today once again a large group of
women held a pro-SPMM (Muslim Radio Ambon) demonstration at the Governor’s
Office. Since the Governor is in Jakarta these days, they were met by Police Chief
Commander BrigGen Sunarko. The demonstrators voiced their aspirations in a
10-point statement, in which among other things was demanded that the SPMM
Radio should not be prevented to broadcast its messages, and those that had started
the conflict on January 19, 1999, should be brought to justice. They also rejected the
Moluccas Agreement of Malino. The gradually expanding mass after two hours left the
Tension again grips Ambon after group protests... (06/03/02) #2479
The Jakarta Post, 6 March 2002
Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Tension engulfed the Maluku capital of Ambon again on Tuesday after the security
forces fired warning shots to halt stone-throwing during a protest by a group of
Muslims opposed to the recent peace accord.
District Maluku Utara to be split up (06/03/02) #2474
InfoMaluku.Com, Monday, 4 March 2002
Plans are being made to split the present day district of Maluku Utara in the province
Maluku Utara into four new districts: Sula and South-, West- and North Halmahera
districts.
The Netherlands support Maluku-agreement in Malino (06/03/02) #2472
InfoMaluku.Com, Monday, 4 March 2002
Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, J. van Aartsen, said to the Moluccan programme in
the Netherlands, Suara Maluku, that the Netherlands support the Malino agreement.
Six people reported missing after minor violence in Ambon (05/03/02) #2470
The Jakarta Post, 5 March 2002
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
At least six people were missing after renewed violence, aimed at challenging the
quest for peace in Maluku, broke out on Saturday in Ambon, the province's governor
said on Monday.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 246 (05/03/02) #2467
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, March 4, 2002
1. RECTIFICATION ON THE INCIDENT OF MARCH 2nd – Today Father Agus
Ulahaiyanan, of the Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, was interviewed on local TV
concerning the incident of March 2 [see yesterday’s Report]. He provided the
following clarification. Knowing that about that time there would be worship underway
in the Al-Fatah Mosque, the rally of the 3000 combined South-East Moluccans and
East-Ceram people followed a route that definitely did not come near the Al-Fatah
Mosque. The motorcyclists that were thrown at with stones when they passed the
Mosque, indeed, were no part of the rally: they had their own unorganized and
seemingly undisciplined “rally”. Thus ! the reaction of these Muslims was fairly
comprehendible though not justified.
Peace returns to Ambon after clash (04/03/02) #2464
The Jakarta Post, March 4, 2002
Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
A minor clash on Saturday failed to prevent Muslims and Christians in the city of
Ambon in Maluku province from continuing to mend fences after years of violence.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 245 (04/03/02) #2457
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, March 2, 2002
TROUBLE AGAIN – Today there was a mass socialisation of the combined christian
and muslim Ambon residents that originally come from the South-East Moluccas and
East-Ceram. It started at about 11.00 a.m. and was held in the front yard of the
Governor’s Office Building. About three thousand were present, and all went
according to wish. The participants then started to walk singing and waving with
branches through the city of Ambon. Arriving at the site of the large Al-Fatah Mosque,
however, suddenly one or more muslim secondary-schoolboys – probably instigated
by persons that want the conflict to go on – started to throw stones at motorcyclists
that were part of the rally. There ensued a chaotic situation in which warning shots
were fired by the sec! urity forces. Some motorbikes were set to fire. People fled
panicking in all directions. Several people were hurt in the commotion, hit by stones
or even stabbed. The uproar quickly spread to other parts of the city. In the muslim
dominated “Ambon Plaza” shopping mall, about sixty christian shoppers, most of
them women, consequently were cornered by muslims. Due to lack of proper
communication between the police and the military it was only after some 3˝ hours
that they were freed.
Five injured as stone-throwing students disrupt peace rally (04/03/02) #2455
The Jakarta Post, 3 March 2002
Octavianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
The quest for peace in Maluku faced yet another challenge on Saturday as violence
marred a parade of Muslims and Christians in the Maluku capital of Ambon.
Attack mars Muslim-Christian peace rally in Indonesia (04/03/02) #2454
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Saturday March 2, 2002 4:52 PM
JAKARTA, March 2 (AFP) - Four people were injured on Saturday in clashes that
marred a joint Muslim-Christian peace rally in Indonesia's Ambon city, the scene of
three-year-old sectarian violence.
Ambon: People Power? (04/03/02) #2450
Laksamana.Net, February 28, 2002 10:14 PM
Laksamana.Net - A mass rally in Ambon led by several thousand young men, both
Muslim and Christian, from the small island of Haruku teamed up Wednesday with
people from the city in a major demonstration demanding peace.
Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 65 (04/03/02) #2449
21 February - 01 March 2002
MALUKU * A bus transporting government officials was shot at on Monday (25 Feb.),
while passing through Galunggung on its way from Ambon to Galala, injuring the driver
and causing minor damages to the bus. The security apparatus sent 100 soldiers and
50 Brimob to the scene immediately to find the perpetrators, some of whom have
been identified but remain at large.
NORTH MALUKU * The Ministry of Home Affairs appointed four senior officials to lead
the administration of North Maluku province. Sinyo Harry Sarungdajang, Inspector
General of Ministry of Home Affairs, will be the acting governor from 20 February to 25
March 2002. According to the ministry, these appointments were necessary to fill the
administrative gaps that occurred due to the absence of the civil emergency governor
Mr. Muhyi Effendi, as well as the provincial secretary who has retired after a normal
term of office.
Muslims, Christians rally joyfully in Ambon (01/03/02) #2447
The Jakarta Post, March 1, 2002
Muhammad Nafik and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Thousands of Muslims and Christians mingled freely in a parade across the Maluku
capital of Ambon on Thursday to express their happiness with and support for the
recent peace accord, local leaders and residents said. It was the first time in the
history of the three-year religious war in the country's eastern province that such a
celebration had taken place.
Muslims and Christians rally for pace in the city of Ambon (01/03/02) #2446
ABC 28/02/2002 21:29:45
Muslims and Christians have mingled freely for the first time in years in the streets of
the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon after a mass rally by Muslims to promote a
peace pact.
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 244 (01/03/02) #2443
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, February 28, 2002 (2nd Report)
CELEBRATING RECONCILIATION – The example of spontaneous reconciliation by
the young men from Hatuhala / Haruku we reported on this morning, during the day
was taken over by many thousands of residents of the city of Ambon. The streets
were crowded with rejoicing people. For christians forbidden areas such as the
A.J.Patty Street, were full of delighted people, young and old. Also for the first time
since 2˝ years, christians could be seen shopping in the Ambon Plaza mall.
Hundreds of roaring motorcycles and truckloads of singing and waving youngsters
roamed around the city. We noticed that many young christians had put on their red
caps and muslims their white caps: three years ago symbols of separation, but now
– exactly by their intermingling – ! symbols of unity, according to the national adagium
"Bhinneka Tunggal Ika", which means: Different but United. Of course the security
forces were in full alert anticipating any disturbance to happen.
Muslims, Christians mingle again in Indo's riot-torn Ambon (01/03/02) #2442
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Thursday February 28, 2002 11:51 AM
JAKARTA, Feb 28 (AFP) - Muslims and Christians have mingled freely for the first
time in years in the violence-torn eastern Indonesian city of Ambon after a mass rally
by Muslims to promote a peace pact, residents said Thursday.
Deadly foes embrace in Ambon (01/03/02) #2441
BBC World News, Thursday, 28 February, 2002, 14:36 GMT
Muslims and Christians in Indonesia's Ambon city have marched for peace together,
with many people from the two faiths hugging each other and shaking hands. They
were holding a rally to show their support for a peace treaty, signed two weeks ago,
aimed at ending three years of religious violence in the eastern Moluccan islands.
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