HTML pages designed & maintained by Alifuru67 Copyright © 1999/2000 - 1364283024 & 1367286044		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, September 14, 2000 THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 53 1). Several people living in the Netherlands who originally come from the now totally destroyed christian village of Waai on Ambon island, came to Ambon recently to have a close look on the damage and thus define a planning for help in rebuilding the village. After a meeting with the governor and with his permission, they went to Waai by road on September 11. The party consisted of 29 people in five passenger cars, namely 4 assistants of the local Pekerjaan Umum (Public Works) for technical advise on any rebuilding program, 6 security forces; whereas most of the others were Waai villagers, among whom the deputation from the Netherlands. Perceiving that the situation was hardly conducive, they hastily did some documentation (pictures & video), but hurrying back to their cars, a bomb exploded in the middle of Waai, and they where informed that the road to nearby Tulehu (a muslim village which they had to pass on their way back) meanwhile had been barricaded, and that a crowd of muslims was amassing. Being stopped between the villages of Waai and Tulehu, the party took refuge at the nearby Security Forces Post. Their cameras were confiscated by the mob. One of the party, member of the Information Department of the Civil Emergency, negotiated with the muslims. The others were loaded on a truck and taken to safety. In the end they perceived that one of them was missing, namely the driver of the Pekerjaan Umum car, named Bernadus Talaperu. Up to date (September 13) he or his body has not been found yet. On September 13, the Secretary of the local MUI ( Majelis Ulama Indonesia , the highest muslim authority, at least in theory) said he regretted this sad incident; it would not have taken place he said if only there had been proper coordination between the governor and the MUI authorities. 2). The governor, Dr.Ir.M.Saleh Latuconsina, gave further explanation on his inconsistency permitting the passengership MS Rinjani , upon entering Ambon Bay, to dock at muslim dominated Jos Sudarso harbour though three days before he had stated that it would dock at the neutral navy harbour (see Report 52 no.1). He said to the press: Immediately after leaving Makasar (formerly called Ujung Pandang), the captain of the ship, Mr. Hamid, reported to the governor that 800 of the passengers who wanted to disembark in Ambon had signed a declaration that they would capture the ship if it would dock at the navel base of Halong instead of at Jos Sudarso harbour. The governor then discussed this dilemma with his advisers of the Civil Emergency and it was agreed to comply to these passengers wish. When on September 19 the Dobonsolo passenger ship (predominantly boarded by christians) will arrive in Ambon, it will dock at the christian harbour of Gudang Arang instead of Halong if that is the passengers wish. 3). The Crisis Centre acknowledges to have hardly any contact with the muslim civilians in Ambon. On September 13 some christians had the opportunity to visit the muslim refugees camp at the Ambon neighhourhood of Waihaong. The party was led by the wife of the governor (muslim) and consisted of Sister Brigita Renyaan (an associate member of the Crisis Centre), Mrs. Hilly Timner and Mrs. Hellen Oostenbroek-Matulessy (both of them deputies from the gemeente Leerdam, the Netherlands) and Miss Pauline Rehatta (from Tilburg, the Netherlands). The secretary of the Crisis Centre was told by Miss Pauline about the situation among the several thousands of muslim refugees at Waihaong, most of whom had fled to safety out of the christian quarters of the town last year. She witnessed a most distressful situation, much worse than in comparable christian refugees sites. There are indications of malnutrition and lack of hygienics. The various buildings are much too crowded. Cooking and living are done at the same place. It happened to be raining just then, and there were leakages everywhere. She did some documentation by photographs. To be more informed about this, one could contact Miss Pauline Rehatta in Tilburg on phone number 013 46 83 301. She intends to arrive back in the Netherlands on September 17. CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA, Msgr Jos Tethool MSC Auxiliary Bishop of Amboina C.J.Böhm MSC Secretary Received via email from : CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA Copyright © 1999-2000  - Ambon Berdarah On-Line * http://www.go.to/ambon HTML pages designed and maintained by Alifuru67 * http://www.oocities.org/ambon67 Send your comments to alifuru67@egroups.com