Ambon, November 23, 2000
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 94
- DEMONSTRATION BY MUSLIMS - As we read in this morning s Siwalima
newspaper, several hundreds of Muslims once again held a demonstration
yesterday near the Town Mayor's Office, not far from the Governor's Office, since
the Governor's Office was sealed off to them by security forces They shouted yells
such as: Obed (=the christians) get ready to climb the mountain (allusion to the
fact that christians going from the town to the west, Benteng etc. v.v., have to
climb the hills to avoid Pohon Pule), Sixteen victims of Sirisori Islam will be paid
with hundreds of christian victims , Obed RMS! Obed PKI (PKI = Partei Komunis
Indonesia - Communism is forbidden in Indonesia since the failed 1965 coup d
état), etc. They also burned and then showed to the onlooking christians the replica of a
cross. However, the christians did not react and just stood looking on. Security
forces meanwhile were in full alert, and by negotiation managed to put an end to
this demonstration after about one hour.
- DEMONSTRATION BY MUSLIM WOMEN - More or less simultaneously Vice
Governor Mrs. Paula B.Renyaan was asked to be present at a Muslim Women's
demonstration at the crossroads of A.J.Patty Street, not far from the Al-Fatah
mosque. This demonstration took place in a correct way. Among the complaints
that were put forward, the lost speed boat with 13 passengers and 3 crew
members was mentioned, among whom were women and children. They also
uttered their concern about christians being shot at since Monday, November 20.
They hoped all these incidents would be solved and justice would be done to the
law offenders.
Commenting on the insult to her the previous day, when she was thrown at with
mineral water and mi, the Vice Governor said that she was comforted by the
christian philosophy of offering the other cheek when hit on the right cheek
(Matthew 5:39). She urged the local press not to exaggerate this happening,
because it could enrage people from and in the S.E.Moluccas, especially the
Keiese. She confirmed that she had said the same to a delegation of christian and
muslim Keiese, who had demanded that this affront should be settled according to
Keiese adat (custom).
- APOLOGIZING - A Sirisori Islam leader has privately offered his excuses to Vice
Governor Mrs. Paula B.Renyaan for her having been offended at the demonstration
last Monday, November 20. However christians especially those from Kei insist
that this apology should be done in writ and be published in all local mass media
and be spread particularly to the whole of the S.E.Moluccas in order to prevent
any renewed unrest there.
- SHOOTING IN THE BAY - Several cases of shooting at christian speedboats on
the route Gudang Arang Halong yesterday afternoon were reported, however
without causing casualties.
- LOOTING OF CLOVES - Siwalima newspaper reports that the christian residents
of Suli are witnessing their thousands of clove-trees being looted and partly
destroyed by muslims from Tulehu, Liang, Kailolo and Pelau (Haruku). Similar
actions are reported from other areas, such as Kairatu (Ceram), Tehoru (Ceram)
and Waai. The christians put their hope on the Governor as the responsible for the
Civil Emergency State to prevent any further dancing on other people s suffering .
C.J.Böhm MSc,
Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
Received via email from: Alifuru67@egroups.com
