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, March 8, 2003
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report No. 355
1. AGAIN VICTIM IN PELAUW – Once again a resident of Pelauw (island of Haruku)
became victim of a sniper. Today, a 36 years old man from Pelauw, while gathering
langsats at a distance of about 7 km. from his village, was killed by a gunshot of an
unknown person.
2. RETURN OF RETURNED REFUGEES – According to local TV broadcast just now,
part of the Christian refugees that recently had left Ambon to return to their original
homesteads on the island of Buru, came back to Ambon again, settling back in the
barracks in Lateri they had left earlier. Their exact number was not mentioned, neither
the reason of their return. According to government officials in Ambon, they had no
right any more to occupy those barracks, as these already had been assigned to
refugees from Waai.
In this context we may mention that a few weeks ago we met a brave Catholic
originally Javanese woman, refugee from Buru, who told us that on own expenses she
had gone to visit her village in North Buru, just to have a look how things were going
there. Though she had been warmly welcomed by her relatives (all of whom had
become Muslims), who urged her to come over with her family, she said she was very
disheartened by the local desolate situation and had decided that she had better stay
on in her barrack in Ambon.
3. NUMBER OF FOREIGNERS ADMITTED – The number of foreigners that has been
allowed to enter Ambon during the first two months of this year, is 104. However, it is
supposed that an additional number has succeeded to enter the area by ship, without
permission.
4. CIVIL EMERGENCY STATE TO BE ABOLISHED IN THE NORTH MOLUCCAS –
Since the North Moluccas are enjoying considerable progress in restoring normal
internal relations, the civil emergency state will be lifted in that province within short.
The civil emergency state in the province of the Moluccas, however, will be continued
at least until after the upcoming election of the new governor and vice governor, which
will probably take place next May.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
