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: comamq@ambon.wasantara.net.id Ambon, May 17, 2001 THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 178 EVALUATING THE MOST RECENT SITUATION IN THE MOLUCCAS Translation of an Interview on May 16, 2001, by Fr. Agus Laritembun with the R.C.Bishop of Amboina (Moluccas), Monseigneur P.C.Mandagi MSC. 1. Monseigneur, what is the present feeling in Ambon and the Moluccas after the arrest of Ja far Umar Thalib by the police? * The Moluccans and more specifically the residents of the town of Ambon feel scared and threatened. Once again people are disappointed with the Responsible of the Civil Emergency, i.e. the local government. There is tenseness, a feeling of unsecurity, even incidents of violence with bloodshed. All of this has to do with the recent arrest of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah Laskar Jihad leader Ja far Umar Thalib by the police in Surabaya. 2. Has this increasing tenseness anything to do with influential politicians who correspond to Ja far Umar Thalib? * The situation in the Moluccas and specifically in Ambon cannot be isolated from groups or influential persons who are of the same opinion, feelings and intentions as Ja far Umar Thalib and his associates in Jakarta and elsewhere. 3. How do you see the arrest of Ja far Umar Thalib? * As a fellow human being I feel sorry for Ja far Umar Thalib and his followers. They, too, are God s creatures, made in His own Image. However, I disagree with their words and deeds that are damaging and destroying their Indonesian fellow people in the Moluccas. Because their assertions and acts incite discordance between Indonesian citizens, so that they become enemies one to another, rousing mutual resentment and mistrust, slander and even killing as we see in Ambon. Due to all of their utterances the Indonesians in the Moluccas are profoundly divided and disintegrated. This means that Ja far Umar Thalib and his followers are separatists, for they overturn the unity of the nation in the Moluccas. Or else it is they who want to disengage themselves from the unity of the Republic of Indonesia. It even could be said that they betray the Indonesian nation. That is why I fully agree that Ja far Umar Thalib and his followers have been arrested and will be brought to court. They deserve severe punishment. 4. Can we state that Ja far Umar Thalib s words and deeds are in accordance with islam teaching? * I am convinced that all what is said and done by Ja far Umar Thalib and his followers so contrary to human nature and violating basic human rights is certainly not in accordance to his religion, the islam. For islam is a religion of peace. The islam religion respects man, who is God s image. Islam stands for love, justice and truth. So, as for me, I am sure that all what is said and done by Ja far Umar Thalib and his followers, is incompatible with his religion. 5. Did the arresting of Ja far Umar Thalib by the police occur on the accurate moment? * I think in fact it should have been done earlier, for it would have prevented much damage and mutual enmity between the Indonesian citizens in the Moluccas. Anyway, the arrest was carried out at last. I sincerely hope that not only Ja far Umar Thalib but also his followers will be detained and brought to justice. 6. Though Ja far Umar Thalib has been arrested, nevertheless provocative messages are constantly being broadcast by his followers on Radio Pembela Muslim Maluku. What is your opinion on this? * It is astounding that this radio is still on air. I wonder who gave permission to operate this provocative radio station. Why does not the Responsible for the Civil Emergency stop these broadcastsings? Is it powerlessness? Or is it feared that this radio station is being backed up by influential persons in Jakarta or elsewhere, persons who are capable to destroy people in certain positions in the Moluccas? Why is it that these provocational broadcasts cannot be stopped? Does the Responsible for the Civil Emergency not hear or apperceive the suffering of the people of the Moluccas due to these provocative messages? Or is the Responsible for the Civil Emergency just wavering because faced with certain forces behind this radio station? 7. What is your opinion towards the police that ventured to arrest Ja far Umar Thalib? * I hope that the police and all those whose responsibility it is to maintain the law having arrested Ja far Umar Thalib will be consequent in upholding justice and truth. Only then they can be looked upon as preservers of peace in Indonesia and fully trustworthy, specifically by the Moluccans, who long for peace, justice and truth. 8. Why should the police and all those whose are responsible for maintaining the law be firm? * Well, of course after this arrest there is pressure from people who are opposed to peace and security in the Moluccas and the town of Ambon. They try and find backing up by religious motivation. Actually they should not succeed among muslims, for the islam is a religion of peace, a religion that opposes any violence, a religion that lays emphasis on love, truth, peace and justice.So it must be assumed that those who do not agree with this arrest, are certain persons that are hungry for power and money. To this end they just use the religion. Therefore the police and all those who are responsible for the law must be steadfast in pursuing justice and truth. For most obviously there are elements of pressure, coming both from the Moluccas and from Jakarta. There is especially most evident pressure from the side of individual persons who entirely agree with Ja far Umar Thalib and his followers, like for instance Ustad Atamimi in Ambon. 9. If indeed Ustad Atamimi is in full accordance with Ja far Umar Thalib, does this mean that he also should be arrested? * In my opinion Ustad Atamimi must be arrested and brought to justice immediately. Like once I said to Ja far Umar Thalib: Your fate will be not different from Eurico Guiteres fate so likewise I now say to Ustad Atamimi: Your fate will be not different from Ja far Umar Thalib s . For Ustad Atamimi s intentions are the same as Ja far Umar Thalib s, striving for violence and barbarity. 10. Maybe you happen to have a special opinion on Ustad Atamimi? * My opinion on Ustad Atamimi is in fact the same as on Ja far Umar Thalib. I hope that this Mr. Ustad Atamimi will put an end to all of his provocational activities, since in this way he damages and destroys Indonesian unity, or at least these activities are aimed at that goal. He can be prosecuted for reasons of separatism and national disintegration. In fact he betrays his country. Using religion he preaches disintegration, notwithstanding the fact that the islam is a religion of peace, unity and brotherhood. He for instance tells the muslims not to do any trading with christians. He always points to the Front Kedaulatan Maluku as being separatists; however, he himself is no less a separatist, betraying the nation. 11. Do you think that both Ya far Umar Tahlib and Ustad Atamimi in fact are just being used? * In my opinion Ya far Umar Tahlib and his followers and also Ustad Atamimi are being used by certain groups or influential politicians in Jakarta, who are after certain political advantages and power. However, it is not sure that Ya far and Atamimi are aware of this. It is much to be deplored if that is the case. For, once these groups or persons have attained what they are after, using Ya far and Atamimi, both will be detained and brought to court. Those politicians meanwhile wash their hands and go unpunished, just like happened at the Trisakti tragedy, when quite a lot of military officials escaped prosecution. Ja far c.s. and Atamimi are useful instruments, because of their religious zeal, their anti communist feelings and anti separatist emotions. But it is the others who are the real separatists and communists, which is proved by their acts of violence and merciless violating of human rights. 12. Do you agree with this apparent change in attitude of the Police, the Maintainers of Law or the Responsible for the Civil Emergency? * I fully endorse the Police of the Moluccas and of Indonesia, and also those who have the task to uphold the law, especially concerning this specific action. I also praise the Responsible for the Civil Emergency in connection with this act of detention, be it a little too late. However, the Governor as the Responsible for the Civil Emergency should be more forceful in his approach towards those whose only aim is to destroy our nation or to destroy the people of the Moluccas and who hide behind their screens of religion and anti communism ideologies. 13. We learned that you recently visited the North Moluccas. Could you make a comparison of the situation there and the situation in the Moluccas or specifically Ambon? * I perceive that in the North Moluccas the governor and his staff, both civilian and military are doing very well. They have a firm stance, they are determined, compact and disciplined in restoring security in the North Moluccas. That is why reinstating of a normal situation there is taking place at a quicker pace than in the Moluccas or Ambon. The Responsible of the Civil Emergency in the Moluccas, specifically the Governor, could learn a lot of those in the North Moluccas. The unrest in the Moluccas/Ambon preceded the unrest in the North Moluccas, but reconciliation contrary to the North Moluccas is very slow here. The leaders there are unanimous and are not affected by forces from outside the Moluccas. specifically from Jakarta, they simply carry out what they have been ordered to. They administer the people and do not heed their positions, do not care whether they will be maintained in their functions or not. Could it be that the Responsible of the Civil Emergency in Ambon is too friendly? Or perhaps he and his staff are too anxious to maintain their status, which might be overturned by certain forces in Jakarta? In that case they fear those forces more than they fear God. 14. If the local Responsible of the Civil Emergency or Governor decided to withdraw from his present job, would you agree? * I do not say that the Governor should withdraw, I just hope that my voice may help the Governor to do some introspection and reflection or even to repent. This does not mean that I am an opponent of the Governor. Freely spoken I feel quite close to him in this situation. But I must speak thus because I feel sorry for him. I respect him and hope he will become a capable Governor. 15. You mentioned the Front Kedaulatan Maluku as a separatist movement. What do you mean by that? * As for me, I do not agree with this FKM (Front of Moluccas Sovereignty) and with its leader, Dr. Alex Manuputty. In this aspect I put Mr. Manuputty on one line with Ja far Umar Thalib. His attitude and actions create disunion and separation. So he, too, is to be called a separatist, betraying the nation, betraying the people of the Moluccas who opt for unity and brotherhood, who want to live in peace. So I agree to the detention and indictment of Alex Manuputty and his followers. Justice should done, regardless of one s religion or conviction. 16. What is your conclusion in connection with the latest developments in the Moluccas? Please notice that all what I have said here, must be seen in connection with the arrest of Ja far Umar Thalib. I try to be impartial in my evaluation. I do not endorse Dr. Alex Manuputty, neither do I oppose Ja far Umar Thalib. I am on the side of honesty and justice. For peace without justice being done is impossible. Equally peace without truth is inconceivable. This ongoing conflict in the Moluccas is happening because neither justice nor truth is being done. There is a lot of injustice, many lies are spread and facts are told in reversed ways. It is especially this endless reversing of the facts that keeps the conflict going on. It sad to see how the facts about Ja far Umar Thalib are being reversed in Jakarta now.== 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