Ambon, November 15, 2000
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report no. 89
We have been absent for quite some time. The reasons are:
First: The situation is rather under control.
Secondly: We were infected by the PrettyPark.Worm virus. We suppose to be clean by
now, but it is said that a host of other virusses is waiting to intrude, especially trojan and
matrix virusses. It could be a deliberate paralyzing from certain quarters. We - though
being a victim as well - herewith want to apologize for any inconvenience or damage we
brought about to your computer.
- BRIMOB FORCES TRANSFERRED FROM THE NORTH MOLUCCAS TO
AMBON - Considering the North Moluccas to be sufficiently conducive, Police
chief commander Firman Gani last week transferred 224 Brimob Police from
Ternate and Tidore (Province of the North Moluccas) to Ambon. Most of them are
now being assigned in the tense Tial/Suli area, in the eastern part of the island,
not far from the village of Passo.
- CHINESE KILLED - A catholic Chinese merchant, named Benedictus Tanasal
(48) was killed on November 8 in the muslim dominated Sam Ratulangi Road
(shopping street). He was used to do business with a muslim woman, but this
time he seems to have been tricked. Just another indication that any intermingling
of christians and muslims is still impossible. However it might be an ordinary
criminal act.
- MISTRUST - Proof of the separateness and mutual mistrust in Ambon is following
incident. In the afternoon of November 13, six christian students, five female and
one male, asked an off-duty minibus to take them from Manggadua/Pohon Pule to
Mardika. However, at the Trikora crossroads the bus turned left instead of turning
right, so took the way straight to the Alfatah Mosque. The driver intended to turn
right immediately after that, following the Anthoy Rheebock street to Mardika.
However the six students panicked and preferred jumping off the riding car to
being taken to the muslim quarters. This resulted in two female students being
badly injured and one slightly wounded.
- DISCORDANCE - We already mentioned internal discordance within the muslim
community (see Report 88, no.1). But the christians, too, experience internal
conflict, especially on the grass roots level. The christian civil "warriors" of
Kudamati are divided in the "Coker" group and the adherents of Agus Wattimena.
"Coker" is short for Cowo-Cowo Keren (Ambonese, meaning "Bold Youngsters").
They regularly fight each other, with some houses burned down as a result.
- VISITORS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY - The vice ambassador from the
Australian Embassy at Jakarta, Mr. Lislie A.Rowe, came to visit Ambon on
November 8-9 in order to collect first-hand information about the situation in
Ambon/Moluccas. There were meetings with government leaders and religious
representatives. We were present at the meeting with about twenty delegates of
the Diocese of Amboina on November 9. Mr. Rowe expressed the eagerness of
the people of Australia to continue providing help in matters of humanitarian aid
and reconciliation. However they should be sure of the competence and
trustworthiness of the local NGO-s. Asked by the vice ambassador about priorities
in humanitarian aid for the refugees, Fr. Agus Ulahaiyanan, chairman of the
diocesan Crisis Centre, answered: what is important to them, is: housing,
activating them (creating jobs, small business, home-industry etc.) and
education/formation for the children.
- MEGAWATI VISITS KEI- AND ARU ISLANDS - Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri arrived at Ambon airport on Saturday, November 11. She was on
her way to Tual, S.E.Moluccas, to preside there at her party's (PDI Perjuangan)
Provincial Conference. During her one hour's transit at Ambon airport she used the
opportunity to have an informal meeting with the local christian and muslim
religious leaders and other influential people. She stressed that the conflict in the
Moluccas had its origin in the people of the Moluccas, and no effort from outside
can bring about real peace. It is the Moluccans themselves who must reconcile
one with another. Her vist to the Kei- and Aru-islands was most successful.
- ADDITIONAL LASKAR JIHAD ARRIVING - We read in "Siwalima" newspaper
that on November 11, another group of Laskar Jihad arrived at Ambon. They had
embarked on the Bukit Si Guntang passengership at Surabaya. The group
consists of 415 persons, thus bringing the total of Laskar Jihad in the Moluccas at
15.219 persons. They have been dispatched by the Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah
Wal Jama'ah. According to the group leader, Muhammad Ghifary, their mission is
the same as earlier "shipments": to assist their fellow muslimin in the Moluccas,
specifically in Ambon, Saparua and Ceram, in the fields of enhancing religious
practice, social work, physical rebuilding of houses and other facilities, medical
care etc. To prove it, they had all kinds of appropriate tools with them (hammers,
medicines etc.).
C.J.Böhm MSc, Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
