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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, October 14, 2000 THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report no. 76 The police chief commander, Brigadir General Firman Gani, declared to the press that the chief commander of the national police forces in Jakarta, S.Bimantoro, has promised to send an additional Mobile Brigade (Brimob) to the Moluccas. Also fast ships will be sent to enhance mobility of the police forces, ensuring quick passage to areas where conflicts are flaring up. It is often the only way to quick access, since not seldom the roads to certain areas are heavily barricaded; besides, sometimes sea straits have to be crossed.   In our Report 72 no.4 is to be read about the three Yonif 403 military who were supposed to be killed during the attack on Sirisori kristen: N.Kurniawan, Suryanto and Paryono. However, yesterday the military chief commander, I Made Yasa, declared that these three soldiers were reported to be missing and that up to now they have not been found yet.   The delegation of the European Union, which arrived at Ambon on October 12 (see yesterday's report no.2), yesterday had meetings with the military chief commander, I Made Yasa, and his staff, with police chier commander, Firman Gani and his staff, with the MUI = muslim leaders at the Al-Fatah Mosque compound, with the Diocese of Amboina and with the leaders of the Moluccas Protestant Church (GPM - Gereja Protestan Maluku). There was no meeting with laskar jihad on the programme. On each occasion from both sides there was much understanding and goodwill. In the afternoon the fifteen member delegation left for Ternate, from where they will return to Jakarta.   "Siwalima" newspaper reports on one meeting which turned out to be a disapointment for the Molluccans, i.e. the meeting with the leaders of the Moluccas Protestant Church. Even, according to Dr.Ir.M.K.J.Norimarna MSc, Rector of the UKIM (Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku), this visit was to be regarded as a failure. He said: Technically spoken, they were not open to receive information from our side. They should not talk too much… They should be more open to information of facts, they should not draw conclusions too hastely. They were heard to say: "According to information we have got, the christians refuse any dialogue with the muslims". Why do not they heed our explanation of the background of this refusal? Why do they show themselves already been "contaminated" by earlier clarification from one party? It is a pity that they did not give us sufficient opportunity to clarify our stance.   Since we ourselves were present at the meeting of these delegates with the Diocese of Amboina (the Roman Catholic Church), we may amplify a little on this meeting. It took place in the Pastoral Centre building (which also happens to shelter about 200 IDP-s or refugees) from 11.25 to 12.05 on Friday October 13. Since both the bishop (Mgr. P.C.Mandagi) and the auxiliary bishop (Mgr. Jos Tethool) are in Kei now for the annual Diocesan Pastoral Meeting, the delegation was welcomed by the chairman and the secretary of the Crisis Centre of the Diocese of Amboina (Fr. Agus Ulahaiyanan and Fr. C.J.Böhm). Some 25 representatives of the catholic community had been invited as well. Though in a relaxed atmosphere, nevertheless tough and fundamental questions were asked. Answering, Fr. Agus stressed that the catholics' strive is uniquely to end the bloodshed, to end the conflict, to come to sincere reconciliation. During this meeting - preceding the one with the Moluccas Protestant Church - the subject of the refusal of dialogue was raised. Fr. Agus answered that the main obstacle was the fact that the christians were of the opinion that no dialogue was possible as long as outsiders (read: laskar jihad) meddled in the Moluccas affair. We may recall to mind what we wrote on August 2,. 2000, in our Report 30 no.7 (we copy this item:) The governor's initiative to hold a meeting of delegates of all factions to establish a common perception on the actual situation of conflict, on Tuesday August 1st, was cancelled since the GPM (Moluccas Protestant Church) together with the (catholic) Diocese of Amboina disagreed with this meeting to be held if certain conditions were not met first, as was clarified in a common statement, signed by the Vice Chairman of the GPM (Drs. L. Lohy) and auxiliary bishop Mgr. Joseph Tethool MSC. Their conditions are, according to "Suara Maluku" newspaper :   The agenda of the meeting should be defined in clear terms. There should be a clear statement about the repressive measures to be taken to remove all jihad warriors from the Moluccas. The army should not play off the conflicting parties one against the other. There should be done a careful selection on the participants of this meeting first. For instance non-Moluccas should not participate. The Navy and the Police Forces must be involved in the defense of those who are under attack. The Yos Soedarso harbour of Ambon has to be freed from muslim control. Though the delegation could only spend one full day in Ambon, nevertheless their coming was a visible sign of interest and concern of the European Community with the protracted conflict. This fosters optimism among the population of the Moluccas of a quick ending of the violence, for their reporting on their visit may add to a more realistic comprehension of what in fact is going on in the Moluccas - which is not always like it is being reported to the outside world by various reports and press releases.   A sample of this difference in reporting, for instance, one could compare some reports on what happened in Galala/Halong last October 12. Our view on that sad event can be found in Report 74 no. 2 and Report 75 no. 1. Here, however, is the Press Release of the Forum Komunikasi Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah on this same event (translated from the original text in Indonesian): "The attack of the muslims on Galala and Halong at 8.00 a.m. on Thursday, October 12, 2000, was initiated as a response to the attack by the christian RMS militia on Sirisori Islam, island of Saparua, on Saturday, October 7, 2000. This vindictive attack was fiercely retorted by the christians, who in fact had already planned an attack on the muslims. Besides, the christian RMS militia was assisted by christians among the Marinir forces. This resulted in the muslims being trapped by the strategy of the christians who initially withdrew, thus inducing the muslims to move forward. When they had come within shooting distance, the security forces and the christians started shooting both from the left and from the right. This resulted in a lot of casualties on the side of the muslims. Up to now three of them are known to have been killed, and more than a dozen wounded. The attack of the muslims came to an end at 4.00 p.m., since more and more security forces came and blockaded the Galala and Halong-Atas area. A soldier from the Yonif 141, who guarded the islam-christian border, was reportedly shot by the christian RMS militia while he tried to fend off the christian RMS militia from entering the muslim area. Jakarta, October 12, 2000 Dewan Pimpinan Pusat Forum Komunikasi Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah, Ayip Syafruddin, S.Psi., Chairman Hardi Ibnu Harun, head communication/information department. Copyright : 2000 Laskar Jihad. Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina C.J.Böhm MSc Secretary   Received via e-mail from : Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina  Copyright © 1999-2000  - Ambon Berdarah On-Line * http://www.go.to/ambon HTML pages designed and maintained by Alifuru67 * http://www.oocities.org/alifuru67 Send your comments to alifuru67@egroups.com