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, January 22, 2001 THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report no. 127   ARRESTED - The name of the member of the Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD I Maluku) that was arrested together with three others at Mardika, near the shore, on January 20 (see Report 126 no. 2), is Darul Kutni Tuhepaly. He is a member of the muslim PPP Party. According to Siwalima newspaper he was found to be in possession of two molotov cocktails.   FURTHER CONFLICT MUSLIMS VS. SECURITY FORCES - Last night, again, there was shooting between muslims and the military security forces of the Yon-Gab = Batalyon Gabungan (Combined Battalion) near the neighbourhood of Mardika. The conflict escalated when two muslims, Ruslan and Yudhi, were dragged by a military panzer vehicle, causing them to be killed. Mr. Malik Selang, secretary of the emergency department of the local MUI (muslim staff at the Al-Fatah mosque) declared to Siwalima newspaper that some fifty women came to the Yon-Gab post at Mardika to claim the bodies of both men. However their demand was said to be met in an abusive way by these military, they even fired in the direction of these muslims civilians, resulting in protracted shooting between muslims and military during the night. Today the situation remains rather tense. The bottle-neck bridge at Pohon Pule is closed by the security forces, perhaps to forestall snipers activities in those quarters.   CHRISTIAN GIRL SAVED - Martina Sahertian (18), living in Makasar (Ujung Pandang) had not seen her relatives in Ambon for four years. So she decided to come and see them. Unaware of the altered situation in Ambon she disembarked at muslim dominated Jos Sudarso harbour and got on a minibus. However, the driver took her to the Al-Fatah Mosque compound, where she was recognized as an Obed (christian) girl. She was immediately surrounded by muslim youngsters. At that moment District Chief Police Commander, Mr. Hasanuddin, happened to pass by and hear her shouting. Mr. Malik Selang (see no. 2) then came and took her to safety.   ISLAMISATION AT SALAS - Salas is a village at the north-east coast of the island of Ceram, not far from Bula. One of the christian refugees from Salas, Edy Tonke, reports in detail to Siwalima newspaper about the islamisation of christians there (cf. Report 123 no. 4). It started with the villages of Dawang Dua and Solang Gompia being attacked on January 9 and 10, 2000, causing the local christians to flee to Salas. On July 22, 2000, the village of Salas on its turn was rocked by violence, so all christians fled for safety to the nearby mountains. However, security forces came and persuaded the christians to come to Bula. There they were given shelter at the multi-purpose building (Gedung Serba Guna) and at the military compound. However, there was not any protection for the christians there. The muslims came and forced the about 250 christians to abjure their christian faith and come over to islam. Local authorities and security forces are blamed for their assuring the outside world that the Bula case had properly been handled.   MOST TERRIBLE CIVIL WAR - Dr. Thamrin Tomagola, sociologist at the Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, says that the conflict in the Moluccas is the most terrible civil war in the world . If only compared to Bosnia he says, according to Siwalima that five year war claimed 10.000 casualties, whereas the Moluccas in barely two years time, have already 8.000 killed. The number of refugees or LDPs is over 350.000. He further says that of the 6.000 Jihad troops, 4.000 meanwhile have left the Moluccas. He urges that the remaining 2.000 should leave the Moluccas immediately.   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