Ambon, November 20, 2000
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report no. 91
1. SPEEDBOAT LOST - On Saturday, 18 November, at 1.00 p.m., a
speedboat, owned by somebody from Sirisori Islam (island of Saparua) left
Tulehu (island of Ambon), bound for Sirisori Islam. However, it never arrived
there. On board were 13 passengers and 3 crew members. Thus was
confirmed by the secretary of the MUI, Mr. Malik Selang. Searching is
underway. Some items which belong to one of the passengers are reported
to have been found washed ashore. The christian Maranatha Centre at
Ambon has asked the residents of the christian villages of Oma, Ouw and
Ulath (Saparua) to assist in the searching.
2. DEMONSTRATION - No wonder the christians are being accused of
causing the disappearance of that speedboat, even of murdering those on
board. So this morning there was a demonstration of about 300 muslims,
many from Sirisori Islam, demanding clarification of the incident within 48
hours. Since the Governor and the police chief commander are not in Ambon,
the demonstrators were listened to, in front of the governor's office, by the
vice governor, Mrs. Paula B.Renyaan. However, she was thrown at with a
glass of sodawater; the government office building was thrown at with
stones, specifically the vice governor's office, which is the central office of
the Civil Emergency. The chairman of our Crisis Centre, Fr. Agus
Ulahaiyanan, happened to be in that office just at that moment.
Round midday shooting was heard from the Bay and from the direction of
Pohon Pule. The road via Pohon Pule has been closed for anybody to pass.
We seem to be in for another round of violence.
3. Meanwhile the responsible for the Civil Emergency is checking on that
boat: whether it really left Tulehu, etc.
C.J.Böhm MSc,
Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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