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, March 24, 2001 THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 153 1. WITHDRAWAL COMBINED BATTALION The present conducive situation in the Moluccas is mainly attributed to the firm stand of the Military Combined Battalion (Batalyon Gabungan or Yon-Gab). However, it has already been decided that this battalion will be withdrawn from the Moluccas within short. They have been on duty in the Moluccas for seven months now, and will be replaced by other troops. However, at least the christians urge the military leaders to come back on this decision and maintain these special troops that have proved their reliability. 2. MUTUAL SHOOTING Last night, starting at about 9.00 pm up to 10.15 pm, residents of Galala, Tantui and Halong Atas, at the eastern outskirts of the town of Ambon, panicked when a lot of shooting was heard. According to Suara Maluku daily newspaper, it started with an attack of about 15 rioters on a Mariner post at Halong Atas. Shortly afterwards shooting also came from the direction of moslem dominated mountain Malintang and was directed at the Security Post of battalion 521/Brawijaya in Galala. These actions were answered with a fusillades from the military. In this incident stray bullets wounded two moslem civilians. There was a concentration of moslem masses from Batumerah up to Tantui. This event is another indication that the current conducive situation in Ambon is still labile. Information from several individuals mention an influx of fresh jihad troops, and jihad military training activities in various sites, such as in Waai, Poka and Air Besar, as if getting ready for a major attack though up to now hereabout nothing has been mentioned in local newsmedia. Anyhow, tenseness in Ambon is building up again. 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