Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Dispatches No. 102, Date: 16 Nov 2001
Twice monthly news bulletin from the Jesuit Refugee Service International office
REFUGEE NEWS BRIEFINGS
INDONESIA/MOLUCCAS: UNREST IN AMBON
On 15 November, the Christian Churches of Amboina published a statement
expressing their concern about renewed unrest and terrorist acts in Ambon. The
Provincial House of Representatives also issued a statement, urging those
responsible for the state of civil emergency and the chief commanders of the police
and military to restore peace.
JRS Moluccas said five warehouses were burned down in Ambon on 21 October in an
attack that comes less than two weeks after a bomb blast at a store next door to the
JRS office. On 16 November, the Amboina diocesan crisis centre reported that
shooting at night between Jihad, military and police forces had been going on for a
week. The target, according to this source, was the predominantly Christian Ahuru
neighbourhood. The crisis centre also reported that landmines have been planted in
Ahuru.
To add to prevalent tension, rumours are circulating about the recent arrival of 600
Jihad troops in Ambon, according to JRS. The Moluccas have been prey to sectarian
violence between Christians and Muslims since January 1999.
INDONESIA: NEW PROJECT IN MOLUCCAS
JRS Moluccas is planning to open a new project in Buru Island, with a focus on
reconciliation. The presence of JRS in Buru island is considered urgent, partly
because we already work with internally displaced people in Ambon from Buru, and
also because there are many displaced people on Buru itself who have not been
reached by humanitarian agencies. JRS already supports education projects in Buru.
We will now support repatriation moves and emergency assistance too.
Services will also be provided in Ceram and Saparua islands. JRS aims to establish a
presence in Saparua island because 20 of the former child soldiers we work with in
Ambon are from this island. To reunite the children with their families, JRS needs to
present there.
For full details about these job opportunities, write to bema.solis@jesref.org or fax
+39-06 6879283.
JRS DISPATCHES is from the International Office of Jesuit Refugee Service, CP
6139, 00195 Roma Prati, Italy. Tel: +39-06 689.77.391; Fax: +39-06 687.92.83;
Email: dispatches@jesref.org; JRS on-line: http://www.jesref.org; Publisher: Lluis
Magrina SJ; Editor: Danielle Vella; Translation: Edith Castel (French), Francesca
Campolongo (Italian), Nieves Delgado (Spanish)
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