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 29, 2001 THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 158 1. MOSLEMS TAKEN TO SAFETY The christians in Ambon do not let themselves be provoked by the recent cruel murder on Semy Toisuta, son of a protestant minister (see yesterday s Report), neither by the warfare training of the laskar jihad at several sites on Ambon island, neither by the abusive language and provoking news on local moslem SPPM radio and on Yogyakarta based laskar jihad websites, neither by the suspected disembarking of fresh jihad troops in Ambon. On the contrary, on three occasions christians recently took moslems that happened to go astray, to safety at the local security posts. It handles about a moslem (name not mentioned) who was found to be in Halong Atas last Monday, and was taken to safety at the local Marines post. The second Moslem to be rescued was Saleman Teko Kotala alias Karim Laitupa (27) in Passo last Tuesday; he was saved by a motorcycle-taxi driver Yohanis Latuheru who happened to learn that he was from the islam village of Ureng (N-W.coast of Ambon island). Yohanis quickly drove him to the local police quarters. The third to be saved was a Butonese named La Bani (35) who was protected yesterday by youths and residents of the hamlet of Wailiha, not far from Passo. No wonder that Governor M.Saleh Latuconsina (who himself is a moslem) when opening the CHRISTIAN INTERNAL DIALOGUE (see yesterday s Report) did not hesitate to say: I know that the christians love peace, for this is an actualisation and realisation of the salvation by Jesus Christ as the Saviour and the King of Peace for the world as is written in the Bible. Meanwhile last night the SPPM radio went on spouting its twisted and fictive defilements of the christians, though already been admonished and threatened by the Governor (see yesterday s Report). (Summarized from Suara Maluku daily). 2. VISITORS Three delegates from USAID are currently in Ambon and intend to stay for three days. They show special interest in the to be established Radio Pelangi (pelangi = rainbow) which is to be a reconciliation radio , run by the Pelangi Foundation. USAID is also interested in the recent National Dialogue in Langgur (for which they had allotted substantial financial support), hoping that its output would be widely spread and have its follow-up. Among other items that have their interest should be mentioned the situation of the refugees and the possibility of creating neutral zones (mixing christians and moslems). Ambon is also being visited by two representatives of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. John Barr (secretary for Indonesia and East Timor) and Ms. Joy G.Balazo (Secretary for International Human Rights). They are eager listeners to various information by the Protestant Synod, the Diocesan Crisis Centre and others. 3. NEW MAJOR AND VICE MAJOR Within a couple of months a new town Major of Ambon for the period 2001 2006 has to be appointed. For the function of Town Major many christians put their hope on Drs. M.J.Papilaya (christian-protestant). A likely candidate for the office of Vice Major is Mr. Malik Selang (moslem), seemingly acceptable for both christians and moslems. Mr. Selang is Executive Secretary of the local MUI (Majelis Ulama Indonesia). He does not object to this office, because he says in that function he will be able to promote efforts to reconciliate and reunite the citizens of Ambon. 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