CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA
Jalan Pattimura 32 -- Ambon 97124 -- Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337
E-mail: crisiscentre01@hotmail.com
Ambon, Mei 29, 2006
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 512
Due to various circumstances, it has been more than two months since we sent out
our latest report. We will try to update our readers on some topics that have
connection with the erstwile conflict. For more detailed information in Indonesian and
English languages we may refer to www.oocities.org/hoelaliejoe
1. RMS FLAG - The annual commemoration of the founding of the RMS ("Republik
Maluku Selatan") separatist movement on April 25, now 56 years ago, is always
anticipated in Ambon with utmost vigilance by the police, because during the years of
conflict it was the cause of much trouble in the area. It is kind of a game for those
RMS supporters to surreptitiously elude the security forces by hoisting RMS' flags.
This year, too, they succeeded in raising the RMS flag on several places on this date:
two flags were spotted in de city of Ambon and one in the village of Kamal, south-west
Ceram Island. Most conspicuous was the one that was hung out on the Dr. Haulussy
government hospital in the Kudamati neighbourhood. Three people were arrested due
to their involvement in the RMS' flag-hoisting in the Kudamati area, namely Popy
Egenderph, John Sahureka and Dominggus Saranamual. According to The Jakarta
Post newspaper, in the arrest, the police also found evidence, including a list of RMS
members, their meeting schedule and photographs of the flag-hoisting ceremony.
Among those arrested, Popy is the most notorious; she was sought by the police in
2004 due to her alleged involvement in the FKM (Maluku Sovereignty Front) but
managed to escape to Jakarta and later on to the Netherlands, from where she
returned afterwards.
2. SEVEN YEARS DEMANDED FOR FKM LEADER - Semmy Waeleruni, secretary
general of the FKM (Maluku Sovereignty Front) movement was allowed to leave jail in
Jakarta in May 2005. However, upon arriving in Ambon on May 4, 2005, he was
immediately apprehended, because - thus was stated - he had been involved in
preparing an RMS celebration to be performed on April 25, 2005. Now the prosecution
has postulated seven years detention for this misbehaviour.
3. SURRENDERING OF WEAPONRY - Several hundreds of home-made fire-arms,
and a lot of bombs and ammuntion have been handed over by civilians to the
authorities in the Moluccas and North Moluccas during the period January - May
2006. Thus was declared by military information officer major Paiman on May 19,
2006. However, possibly many weapons are still being hidden among the people.
4. ASKING FOR GUARANTEEING SECURITY - Bishop P.C. Mandagi has asked the
governor of the Moluccas to enhance security for the catholic community that one
year ago returned to their island of Kasui, south-east of Ceram. Both catholics and
protestants do not yet feel completely safe in their villages on Kasui, as there
apparently is still a certain group of erstwhile adversaries that seem to resent the
christians' return. The governor was astonished by this report and promised to take
care of the situation.
5. NORTH MOLUCCAS CAPITAL TO BE MOVED TO SOFIFI - Since the province of
the North Moluccas was established some years ago, the town of Ternate has
functioned as the provincial capital. However, the little town of Sofifi on Halmahera, in
the Oba regency, opposite the islands of Ternate and Tidore, has been assigned to
become the new provincial capital. Kompas newspaper reports that during the four
years of building an appropriate infrastructure, the work is progressing too slowly.
Government buildings still loiter at some 50% and can't possibly be operational at the
end of 2006, when the provincial administration is to go over from Ternate to Sofifi. The
new capital is a one hour voyage by speedboat from Ternate.
6. AMBON ELECTS ITS TOWN MAYOR - Ambon's first direct election of its mayor
last May 15, took place peacefully. Of course there were protests of those who claim
that there were certain irregularities, but as a whole the Ambon residents apparently
"prioritize peace, brotherhood and security", as was bishop Mandagi's commentary.
Elected were the incumbent mayor, M.J. Papilaya (christian), and his running mate,
business woman Olivia Latuconsina (muslim). Of the about 180.000 eligible voters
more than 80% turned out to vote.
7. STRIFE STILL LINGERING IN THE MOLUCCAS - We summarize a The Jakarta
Post article by Ridwan Max Sijabat:
The smoldering, bloody sectarian conflict in Maluku and ethnic warfare in Kalimantan
may flare up again unless the government addresses injustices and lingering
tensions, an expert says.
Addressing a two-day international workshop on conflict resolution and peace-building
in Jakarta Thung Ju Lan of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said despite the
relative calm, the situations in Maluku and Kalimantan remain shaky.
He said the conflicts were far from over because the causes of the problems remained
largely unsettled.
"The sectarian conflict in Maluku has had its main roots in a weak government, a
widening gap between rich and poor, and injustice," he said.
Thung said the widening economic gap between indigenous people and migrants
could fuel fresh fighting in Maluku. That gap, he added, is linked to (...) prolonged
segregation between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Christianty, a participant from Ambon, Maluku, said Ambon was "looking peaceful but
segregation has frequently caused misunderstanding between the two communities".
She also pointed out that the relatively new regional autonomy had brought about
meaningful changes in local governance.
"Jakarta has decentralized authority in many fields and disbursed trillions of rupiah for
the province, but the poor remain poor while the rich are getting richer. (...)
"The two provinces have been in need of leaders of integrity who treat people equally
regardless of their ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. Bureaucratic reform has
to be carried out by recruiting the best people. Segregation must end; legal certainty
should be upheld and security authorities must maintain their neutrality," he said.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
