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, November 7, 2001
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report no. 207
1. DEMAND FOR IMPRISONMENT OF DR. A.MANUPUTTY - On November 5 the
Public Prosecutor in the legal process against defendant Dr. Alex Manuputty
demanded imprisonment of the accused for the time of nine months (see: Dr. Alex
Manuputty on trial - Report 205 no.2 - October 27).
2. AGITATION IN BATUMERAH - At about 11.30 a.m. on November 5, four passenger
cars with christians on their way from Galala to Ambon, passing through the muslim
neighbourhood of Galunggung / Batumerah, were hampered by masses, thrown at
with stones and shot at. In this incident Mrs. Vonny Sandra (30) was shot in her hip.
The cars had minor damage such as broken windows and their bodies bullet-pierced.
The reason of this agitation is still unknown, but the lesson is: you had better keep
away from each other's areas, for there is still much animosity.
3. ANNULMENT OF ANNULMENT (NORTH MOLUCCAS) - On July 5, 2001, Abdul
Gafur, member of the Golkar Party, was elected to be the first governor of the new
Province of the North Moluccas, replacing caretaking governor Abdul Muhyi Effendie.
However, the House of Representatives of the North Moluccas annulated the election
result because Gafur, in order to obtain this office, allegedly had practiced money
politics. Now, on November 2, the High Court of Justice in Jakarta has confirmed that
the election was legal and that there is no obstacle to the installment of Abdul Gafur
as the Governor of the North Moluccas, unless decisive irregularities can be proved in
court.
4. ASSESSMENT OF SITUATION IN THE NORTH MOLUCCAS - Caretaking Governor
and Responsible of the Civil Emergency in the North Moluccas, Brigader General
Muhyi Effendie, reports that the inter-religious strife in the North Moluccas has cost
the lives of 2.084 people. The number of residents' houses destroyed is 24.000. The
total number of hostages and lost people is 348, 284 of whom are said to be muslims,
64 christians.
Meanwhile the "Lembaga Advokasi Forum Peduli untuk Keadilan di Maluku Utara"
(Advocation Foundation of the Forum Concern on Justice in the North Moluccas),
based in Manado (North Celebes), confirms that on February 2, 2001, it sent a report
on the violation of human rights on the island of Poi, part of the regency of Loloda, to
the UN Security Council and the UNHCR. In this report was declared that a number of
residents of the villages of Dowongila and Cerah had been abducted by a group that
called itself "jihad" troops. It is thought that 14 of these meanwhile have perished,
whereas 80 - all of them women and children - are still being held as hostages, though
it cannot be ascertained whether they are still alive up to now. The national military
and police forces have also been requested to find out about these people. However,
some local officials contend that it is not only christians that became victims, but also
quite a number of muslims.
C.J.Böhm MSc,
Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
Received via e-mail from : Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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