Ambon, November 29, 2000
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report no. 98
- LASKAR JIHAD ON CERAM - Various reports from the island of Ceram confirm
that the number of Jihad fighters on the island of Ceram is steadily increasing,
joining forces with local muslims to obliterate the last few christian communities
that still survive on this large island. They are said to have smuggled in standard
weaponry, such as rifles and grenades and dozens of boxes of ammunition.
- ISLAMISATION - The chairman of the protestant-christian attorney team (Tim
Pengacara Gereja - TPG) Ambon, Mr. Semmy Waileruny, declared to Siwalima
newspaper that it is more and more evident that the ultimate goal of the jihads is:
changing the democratic Republic of Indonesia into a Muslim State. The leader of
the jihad forces, Jaffar Umar Thalib, on Wednesday November 15, 2000, answered
questions by two reporters from Jurnal Islam at Cempaka Putih, Jakarta. He said
that the moment had come to introduce Syariat Islam (Islam Law) in the
Moluccas. He said: "We intend during this Ramadhan to do sweeping on tempat
maksiat (places of sin) in the North Moluccas, and carry out various activities
paving the way for full syariah, at least in places that have now become
exclusively islam, such as the islands of Ternate, Tidore and Bacan". He (Jaffar)
further accused Suara Maluku newspaper, and also the RRI (Radio) and TVRI
(Television) of Ambon to spread false information, calling the laskar jihad
troublemakers, thus forcing the jihads to response by mortars. So at last they
decided to provide information according to truth.
- CONVERSIONS - There are repeatedly reports about conversions of christians
becoming islam, specifically on the islands of Bacan, Buru and Ceram.
- FURTHER NEWS ON THE EVENTS AT KESWUI - Referring to our Report 96
no.2 and Report 97 no.1, meanwhile further details on the recent attacks on
Karlomin and three other christian villages on the island of Keswui, part of the
string of islands to the S.E.of Ceram, can be found in today's Suara Maluku
newspaper. A leading figure from Karlomin, Andreas Sagat, provided Suara
Maluku with the following details:
These villages had not anticipated being attacked, since there were always good
interreligious relations, being from the same ethnic roots and having normal daily
contact.
All attacks took place at about 6.00 a.m. and were carried out by about 3000
fighters: Utta was attacked on November 23, resulting in the burning of a church
and four houses. Karlomin was attacked on November 24, resulting in fifty
residents killed, eight wounded, whereas 150 houses were burned. November 25,
it was the turn of Wunin to be attacked. The catholic church, a school and 100
houses were burned down.The village of Tanasoa became target of an attack on
November 26: four christians were killed, a church, a school and 120 houses
burned.
§ As many as 270 people from these villages managed to escape to the neighbouring
island of Teor. From there, they have been evacuated to Tual (capital of the Kei
Islands, S.E.Moluccas).
- VISIT OF THE AMBASSADOR OF JAPAN - Today the Ambassador of Japan to
the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Takao Kawakami, is due to come to Ambon for a
two days visit. Yesterday the Vatican Apostolic Nuncio returned safely from a
three days visit to Tual, Kei Islands and continued his journey back to Jakarta.
C.J.Böhm MSc,
Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
Received via email from: Alifuru67@egroups.com
