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, October 9, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 488
1. RECOUNTING REFUGEES – Authorities will recount the number of displaced
people in Ambon to help smooth the distribution of delayed financial assistance to
them. Thus is reported by The Jakarta Post newspaper. Contradictory refugee counts
have caused delays in the distribution of aid in the form of building materials to help
displaced people, such as in the Poka and Rumahtiga area, on the shore of the Bay
opposite the city of Ambon. According to data from the provincial administration, there
are 1,000 displaced families in the Poka and Rumahtiga area, whereas data from the
district show that 2,200 houses have been burned down during the conflict. So where
are the uncounted families staying, whose houses were also burned down?
Another problem is the often poor quality of the resettlement houses built by
contractors that are assigned by the government. "I am doubtful about the work of the
contractors who were only interested in making big profits. The houses are not fit for
people to live in, maybe for animals. However, if we refuse to live there where else will
we stay?" thus was said to The Jakarta Post by Hartaty Mulyaty, a displaced woman
from Larier.
An assistant to the Maluku provincial secretary, Rahman Soumena, who also heads
the Maluku Refugee Relief Agency, promised to prosecute unscrupulous contractors
who pilfered refugee funds.
2. STIFF VERDICT ON FIREARMS TRAFFICKER – According to The Star
newspaper, a 33-year-old Indonesian Islamic militant, named Umar Chipto Sumarto,
was found guilty of trafficking in firearms and ammunition aboard the ship "Semoga
Makmar" within Malaysian waters four years ago. He now has been sentenced to
death by the High Court in Tawau (Malaysia). The firearms were believed to be for use
in Ambon. In sentencing Umar, Justice Linton Albert said the court must take firm
action to prevent Malaysia from becoming a haven or transit point for firearms
traffickers intending to take the lives of people in neighbouring countries.
3. POSSIBLE DEATH SENTENCE FOR TERRORIST SUSPECTS – Two terrorist
suspects went on trial in Ambon District Court and could be sentenced to death if
convicted. The more notorious of them is Idi Amin Thabrani Pattimura, alias Ongen
Pattimura (35). Perusing our own reports on this Ongen Pattimura, we find his name
as a suspect of the April 3, 2002, bomb blast in the Yan Paays Street, Ambon, which
cost the lives of seven people and caused 52 people being injured. However, he
escaped being arrested then (Reports 254, 258 and 261).
Ongen is believed to have been involved, too, in masterminding the February 14, 2005,
armed attack from a speedboat on Villa Kareoke in Wailete, Hative Besar village, on
the shore of the Bay of Ambon, which left two people dead and another person
wounded (Reports 466, 475 and 479).
On May 16, 2005, Ongen was arrested, at last, in connection with the attack – early
in the morning of that same day – on a police security post in Loki, a village on the
south coast of West Ceram island, resulting in five Brimob police personnel being
killed. He has been found guilty of plotting this attack, though not actually
participating in it.
It is not impossible that Ongen will get the death sentence.
Another who may face the same fate is Asep Djaja alias Aji or Dahlan or Yahya. He
was involved in an attack on Wamkana village (South Buru) on May 5, 2004, which
claimed two lives (Report 431). Asep was also a participant in the earlier mentioned
attack on a police security post in Loki. In the late evening of that same day, he could
be arrested in the Batumerah area of the city of Ambon. Asep and several others had
undergone military training at Moro, Philippines.
4. PROSPEROUS DEVELOPMENT IN KASUI – In December 2004 it could
reasonably be expected that – at last – the christian refugees from the much afflicted
island of Kasui, situated to the S.E. of Ceram island, could prepare themselves to
return from the Kei Islands to their own island. The reason for postponement was the
uncertainty about whether sincere reconciliation could be established between the
local Muslim and Christian communities (Report 455). However, on 30 May, 2005,
their return became a fact (Report 480). Both in paving the way for this homecoming
and for coping with the first physical obstacles (housing, food, health, all kinds of
tools and utensils) they owe very much to the JRS (Jesuit Refugee Service). We
received a detailed report – enhanced by photographs – of the successful first three
months of their rebuilding their villages and facilities.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
