HTML pages designed & maintained by Alifuru67 Copyright © 1999/2000 - 1364283024 & 1367286044		Want to Help? 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, February 19, 2001 THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 139 1. MOSLEMS RESCUE CHRISTIANS On Saturday February 17, at about 9.30 AM, speedboat Rogi with 15 christian passengers aboard left Galala in the bay of Ambon bound for Gudang Arang, Ambon town. A suddenly arising gale caused the boat to capsize somewhere between Wayame at the northen shore of the bay and Batumerah at the southern shore of the bay. Three speedboats with muslims from Wayame immediately came to the rescue and took the unlucky passengers and the crew to the christian anchorage of Gudang Arang. 2. MOSLEM PRESENCE AT A CONFERENCE OF CHRISTIANS The Angkatan Muda GPM (Provincial Youth Organisation of the Moluccas Protestant Church) on occasion of the opening of their 25th Conference in Ambon, invited among others delegates from various local Moslem youth organisations. These happily accepted the invitation. Suara Maluku newspaper reports that they intermingled well. 3. WARNING AGAINST RMS ASPIRATIONS A statement has been issued by the F-PNK = Fraksi Pembela Negara Kesatuan ( Defensor of National Unity ) regarding the manoevres of the FMK = Front Kedaulatan Maluku (Moluccas Self-Government Front), which is led by Dr. Alex Manuputty. This widely spread F-PNK statement was dated February 18 and signed by its chairman, Thamrin Ely, and Secretary Drs.Achmad Wahulu. The statement points to the rather controversial declaration on self-government of the Moluccas by Dr.Manuputty on December 18, 2000 (see Report 122 No. 4). Several influential persons, including protestant and catholic church leaders, had then tried in vain to prevent such ambiguous declaration, since it smells of RMS-aspirations . Afterwards Mr. Manuputty denied that he had any separative intentions. Now the F-PNK in its statement urges the Military to crack down on these RMS people that want to establish an Alifuru/Maluku nation. And the Police is asked to go on with judirical measures against these separatists. Dr.Manuputty had been detained then but had been released shortly after under pressure of influential christians. In Siswalima we read a first reaction to this F-PNK statement, expressing sort of feeling bored about that endless and senseless accusing of christians being separatists. For instance Hentje Hilatessy, chairperson of the Amboina Credit Union, regrets that exactly Thamrin Ely, who is a member of the Civil Emergency Staff, utters such imputations which will only contribute to protracting the conflict. 4. SITUATION ON THE ISLAND OF KEI-BESAR In the Kei Islands, S.E.Moluccas, there was a conflict between moslems and (mainly protestant) christians in March-April 1999, resulting in a considerable number of casualties and a huge loss of property and facilities. After reconciliation in May 1999, there has been no conflict any more. Still, a lot of people are still fearing that especially by provocation from elsewhere the conflict just might flare up again. In this context we read in today s Siwalima newspaper some information specifically concerning the island of Kei-Besar, provided by the local leading protestant minister, Mr. Agus Wenno, chairperson of Classis Kei-Besar, Elat. He says that since the attack on the village of Dangarut on May 3, 1999, there never has been an attack on any village at Kei Besar any more. Security in Elat, capital of Kei-Besar, is guaranteed for 80% now. Efforts to attain a full 100% of safety feeling are underway by means of dialogues and meetings of both parties. Mr. Wenno acknowledges that of three villages the christians still dare not return to their homesteads, namely Weduar Fer, Tutrean and Rerean. 5. NATIONAL DIALOGUE AT KEI-KECIL The Crisis Centre of the Diocese of Amboina in cooperation with the Go-East Institute at Jakarta and the local Government is preparing a three day National Dialogue on Revitalizing Local Culture for Rehabilitation and Development in the Moluccas towards a New Indonesia , which is to be held in Tual-Langgur, Kei-Kecil, S.E.Moluccas. One thousand participants are expected to be present at this special event, which is to take place on March 14 17, 2001. The participants consist of government and religion leaders, local influential persons, intellectuals, students, NGOs, tradesmen and local legislative councils, about 800 persons from the S.E.Moluccas, about 200 from Central and North Moluccas, with some delegates, too, from other Provinces. 6. We recommend reading the attachment: a Testimony Before the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom U.S. Policy Options on Indonesia , as delivered by Mr. Sidney Jones, Asia Director, Human Rights Watch, on February 13, 2001.  C.J.Böhm MSc, Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina Received via e-mail from : Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina Copyright © 1999-2001  - Ambon Berdarah On-Line * http://www.go.to/ambon HTML pages designed and maintained by Alifuru67 * http://www.oocities.org/maluku67 Send your comments to alifuru67@egroups.com