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, April 26, 2003
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 365
1. ABUNDANCE OF RMS FLAGS – Notwithstanding stern warnings by the
government, an unprecedented large number of RMS flags was hoisted on the eve and
during the night of April 25, the 53rd commemoration of the founding of the RMS
(Republik Maluku Selatan / Movement for South Moluccas Independence), both in the
city of Ambon and in various villages and nearby islands. The total number may be
close to two hundred. Several hundred people were arrested. From the village of
Aboru, island of Haruku, more than a hundred people were detained and transferred to
Ambon to be interrogated on their connection with the FKM (Front Kedaulatan
Maluku), which promotes the RMS ideals.
2. PROFILE OF THE RMS FLAG – The RMS flag consists of four vertical stripes:
blue – white – green – red. The red stripe is as wide as it is long (so not much of a
"stripe").
3. GENERAL SITUATION IN AMBON ON APRIL 25th – The whole day long the
situation in Ambon was not much different from normal. Offices and schools
functioned as usual. There were no mass gatherings or acts of violence reported.
Acting Governor Harry Sinyo Sarundayang himself surveyed the city from a helicopter
during the day. During a TV interview he was very quiet, perceiving that this whole
matter of RMS flag raising was not done as a show of force; neither was there
mentioning of any accompanying ceremony being performed. He showed sincere
concern on the background of this flag raising, supposing that it was sort of trying to
draw the attention of government leaders to the fate of so many destitute people in the
Moluccas, who in vain call on the government (should be mentioned that the central
government mostly restricts its aid to substantial financial help, which, however, has
to travel a score of persons and offices before what is left of it reaches its
destination…).
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
