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CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA
Jalan Pattimura 32 - Ambon 97124 - Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337
E-mail: compro@ambon.wasantara.net.id
Ambon, December 2, 2000
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report no. 100
- CHAOTIC DEMONSTRATION - Led by Laskar Jihad, yesterday at about 11.00 a.m., a
mass of muslims, including women, came to the Governor's Office at Jalan Pattimura to
proffer a list of seven complaints and demands, together with several warnings about
things that will happen if their demands are not fulfilled, among others that the large
Maranatha church (adjacent to the governor's office) will be destroyed, be it at the cost
of a thousand muslim lives. Noticing the disorder among the demonstrators, security
forces tried in vain to prevent them from entering the governor's office compound by firing
in the air, which was answered by the mob with throwing of grenades. Onlooking
christians were thrown at with stones and bricks, which was answered by them
likewise. Then the military started to aim their shooting directly at the demonstrators. In
this action two of the protesters were killed and three wounded. At last a delegation of
five muslims was allowed to meet the governor and other government officials.
There they read and handed to the governor a list of seven complaints and demands. The main complaint handled about the savage way in which recently combined military forces had carried out sweeping on weaponry in the islam village of Gemba (starting from Gemba, muslims had attacked and destroyed the christian town of Kairatu on S.W.Ceram on November 25, see Report 97 no.2), which had allegedly resulted in the death of a child. They demanded this combined military unit to be replaced by neutral military forces. Section-I military commander colonel A.Siswanto should be discharged immediately (an already often repeated demand from the side of the muslims). The governor answered by promising that investigation would be done on what in fact had happened in Gemba. During the rest of the day there was still much commotion and concentration of masses in that neighbourhood. During the night a lot of bombing and shooting could be heard coming from the direction of the neighbourhood of Mardika.
- VICTIMS IN THE BAY OF AMBON - The muslim casualties during the demonstration at
the governor's office, apparently triggered the muslims' determination to take revenge. At
2.30 p.m. the large motorboat California crammed with christian passengers, left
Gudang Arang anchorage, immediately followed by three or four speedboats with
christians. On its way to Galala, this convoy was attacked and shot at with organic
weapons by muslims from speedboats and from the shore. Siwalima reports the sad
result: among the passengers of the California, one person was killed (Mrs.Etji de Lima -
35) and two were wounded. Also the three speedboats had victims: one killed (crew
member Berty Malaihollo 23) and nine wounded. According to Suara Maluku newspaper,
among the wounded were three police security forces.
- RECONCILIATION IN HALMAHERA - Today's Suara Maluku newspaper reports that
the christians and muslims of the region (Kecamatan) of Sahu on the island of
Halmahera have reached an official agreement on the return of the muslims refugees,
465 families or about 2000 persons, to Sahu. Both parties have pledged to keep to a list
of nine statements which will guarantee safety for all. Security forces will keep an eye
on it.
- NUMBER OF JIHAD FORCES - It is often asked: "What is the number of Jihad troops in the Moluccas?". The answer is: nobody knows but the Laskar Jihad themselves. A few days ago the Police Chief Commander, Mr.Firman Gani, said: 800. At the same time the Governor, Mr.M.Saleh Latuconsina, said: 1.300. However the chairman of the protestant-christian attorney team (Tim Pengacara Gereja TPG) Ambon, Mr. Semmy Waileruny according to today's Siwalima newspaper puts their number at 14.167.
A HUNDRED REPORTS - This is the hundredth Report we send out. When will the last report be written? if ever. But we prefer to say with the holy woman Julian of Norwich (1342 - 1416): Anything which might happen: it will eventually turn out to one's benefit. We are most grateful to all of our subscribers who care to read these brief reports and to share our concern and sorrows, also joining us in their prayers.
C.J.Böhm MSc,
Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
Received via e-mail from : Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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