Ambon, November 21, 2000
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 92
- SPEEDBOATS ATTACKED - Renewed unsafety of speedboat navigating around
the Lease Islands (Ambon, Haruku, Saparua) already started on November 16,
when a small fishing boat with christians near Noloth/Itawaka (Saparua) was
attacked by a speedboat. On that occasion one christian was killed, one
wounded. Several other incidents at sea ensued. The two latest incidents were the
shooting at the speedboat Polaris when passing the islam site of Tial, Ambon
island, in the morning of November 20, whereby three passengers were wounded,
and the shooting at a speedboat in the Bay of Ambon, killing one and injuring
three of the christian passengers.
- KILLING AGAIN IN AMBON TOWN - On November 20, in the morning, in the
muslim quarters of Galunggung, Ambon town, a christian was cut down (killed),
whereas another was seriously wounded. In the afternoon there was frequent
shooting, among others at the neighbourhood of Petak Sepuluh, near Mangga Dua
Ambon town, where one christian was killed by bullets.
- SPEEDBOAT SUNK - Indirectly related to the unrest was the sinking of a
speedboat near Air Salobar, at the western end of Ambon town. Already for a long
time, laskar jihad won t allow people coming from and going to the villages to the
west of Ambon, to pass the muslim enclave Pohon Mangga by road, so that short
distance must always be covered by boat. In the evening of November 20, a
speedboat with a capacity of 15-16 passengers, however being boarded by about
29-30 people, consequently sunk. Five people have been found drowned, whereas
8-10 passengers are still missing.
- The morning newspaper had no reports about anything having happened during the
passed night. However, inside information from Batugantung tells us that during
the night and in the early morning frequent sounds of mortars could be heard in
and around the nearby neighbourhoods of Perigi Lima and Tanah Lapang Kecil.
C.J.Böhm MSc,
Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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