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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 22, 2000 THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 81 DIALOGUE - It is noticed that both sides (christians and muslims) are more and more inclined to drop any preconditions to start a dialogue in order to restore normal relations. On two earlier occasions the governor's invitation to both conflicting parties to meet one with another, was refused by the christians. Law expert Mr.Fileo Pistos Noija, member of the protestant Church Advocacy Team, explained that the christians could not possibly comply to the first of these invitations, since just then the christian village of Waai was being annihilated by muslims (the second opportunity was in Jakarta when meeting with presiden Abdurrahman Wahid). Another precondition 'the immediate ousting of the laskar jihad' had not been directed at the muslims but at the responsible for the Civil Emergency State, i.e. the governor. Yet another condition which was to be fulfilled for a christian-muslim dialogue, was the non-participation of any ousiders. Mr.Noija stressed that this condition was notto be applied to (for instance) people from Bugis/Buton/Makasar, most of whom were born and have grown up in the Moluccas, so they are to be regarded as Moluccans. Meanwhile the recently established 'National Human Rights Agency' (see Report 79 no.2) declared its readiness to act as intermediary between the two conflicting parties. Thus was declared to the press on October 21 by one of its members, Mr. B.N.Marbun. Though the principal task of this agency is the survey of violation of human rights, it also provides various suggestions to the governor to come to a dialogue and ultimately to reconciliation. The agency is also ready to open talks with each of the two sides if a conducive dialogue is still out of the question.   DRUGS - On October 21 a seminar was held at the protestant Imanuel church at Karang Panjang, Ambon town, on mental training for women and on abuse of sex and narcotics/drugs. On that occasion the police chief commander, Firman Gani, declared that it might be possible that those who always carry out assaults, make use of certain narcotica, psychotherapics and other damaging drugs to enhance their bravery, resulting in a significant number of casualties among these attacking forces. On earlier occasions this suspicion had already been raised (Report July 14, no.2, and Report July 20, no.1).   BURNING OF BUS KAIRATU-KAMARIAN - On October 20 tenseness in the Kairatu area (South Ceram) flared up again when a passenger bus was intercepted and burned by a muslim mass on its way from Kairatu to Kamarian, not far from the turn off to Kelapa Dua. On the bus were 23 persons, including two security servicemen. Three persons were seriously wounded in this incident.   THE ATTACK ON AHIOLO (see Report 79 no.3). Some evidence about the attack on Ahiolo, a christian village which lies at a distance of about 12 km from the south coast of Ceram, in the Kairatu area, is now available. According to 'Suara Maluku' newspaper, on October 14, Ahiolo was attacked by masses from the villages of Latu and Hualoi. The attack was launched in the early morning, when many people were saying their prayers both in church and in their houses. The masses at last were repulsed by the villagers together with civilians from the villages of Abio and Huku Kecil who had come to their support. Reported damage: 46 houses, a school building and a polyclinic were burned down; the fate of the church buidling is still in doubt. Five villagers were killed in the incident (three males, two females), one 7 years old boy by the name of Ade Latu, was said to be abducted by the aggressors. Security forces had not been able to arrive to the site in time due to lack of proper roads.   CONFLICT ON THE ISLAND OF SAPARUA FLARES UP AGAIN - At 8.00 a.m. on Sunday, October 22, as the christians of the village of Ulath (island of Saparua) were preparing to go to church, their village was attacked again by masses that came from Sirisori Islam. The assailants were beaten off by the villagers and local security forces. After their failure at Ulath, the masses from Sirisori Islam launched an attack on Sirisori Kristen at 5.00 p.m. on the same day. From the 15 houses that were left untouched on earlier assaults, several were burned down, also the already heavily damaged church was burned more thoroughly. There were no reports of casualties on christian side. Brimob police forces at last managed to repulse the invaders.   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