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 21, 2001 THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 181 1. AMBASSADOR'S VISIT The ambassador of the Netherlands to Indonesia arrived at Ambon yesterday for a nine day visit to the Moluccas, in which besides Ambon, also the Banda Islandas and the Kei Islands will be visited. An initial visit was paid to the Bishop, Mgr. P.C.Mandagi MSC in which also several members of the Crisis Centre were present. The Bishop among other things reported on his recent visit to the North Moluccas, where the conflict has been dealt with in so much more professional way than in the Moluccas, thanks to a firm and consequently implemented stand of the Responsible for the Civil Emergency and the security forces. Scheduled are also visits to the MUI (islam) and the Synod (christian-protestant). Meetings will be held, too, with the local civil and military & police officials. By his visit the Ambassador wishes to express the concern of the Netherlands with the situation in the Moluccas, while trying to find ways to help the Moluccas in ending the conflict. 2. BURNING AND SLAUGHTERING IN AMBON Jihad troops last night attacked the christian neighbourhoods of Mardika, Soa Kecil, Belakang Soya and Karang Panjang, town of Ambon. There were numerous salvos of gunfire and the sound of dozens of grenades. About ten to twenty houses went up in flames. According to Siwalima daily at least three christians were killed and nine badly wounded. Listening to what people tell, probably the number of victims will turn out to be much higher. A new method of killing was practised: Ninja -like persons knock on doors; after the door is opened they burst in and stab the residents with bayonets. Attacks on the Pohon Pule, Diponegoro and Urimessing neighbourhoods were successfully thwarted off by military battalion 144/Sriwijaya. But at the other sites the security forces gave the impression to let it just happen. The Yonif 521/Brawijaya battalion, which watches over the Batumerah/Mardika border, apparently let the muslim intruders pass and enter the christian areas unhindered. One military even was heard to say: It is a war of the Obeds (christians) among themselves . Two panzer mobiles came to the Amans hotel, which lies at a site were the islam neighbourhood of Batumerah borders with the christian neighbourhood of Mardika and thus is frequently used for meetings of both parties. However the panzer vehicles did not come to protect the civilians, but to bring the Dutch Ambassador and his group, which consists of six persons, to safety. They erroneously thought the Ambassador, who is actually staying at the Mutiara Hotel, to be there. The christians feel once again betrayed by the Responsible for the Civil Emergency and left to themselves by the international community. 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