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, December 11, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 497
1. ANARCHISTIC STUDENTS' DEMONSTRATION - The eleventh and last item of the
"Moluccas Agreement of Malino", signed on February 12, 2002, officially ending the
strife between muslims and christians in the Moluccas, stated: "To endorse the
rehabilitation of the Pattimura University, based on the principle that this institution is
meant to foster common welfare. Therefore the system of recruitment and all other
measures will take place openly and impartially, whilst safeguarding the quality that is
needed."
Unsatisfied with the implementation of this part of the agreement, a number of
students, united in the "Gerakan Mahasiswa Prodemokrasi" (Pro-Democracy
Students Movement) went up to the University Rector's office in Poka, protesting on
the unfair composition of the Students' Representative Board (read: being dominated
by christians). The peaceful meant demonstration got out of hand when some
windowpanes were smashed, old tyres were burned and other students were chased
and molested. Police personnel that tried to intervene were rigorously thwarted.
Pattimura University Rector H.J. Tetelepta came forward at last and promised to take
care of the case.
2. SEARCH FOR TWELVE HAYA YOUTH - The Haya case we mentioned in our
latest reports, is not yet finished. At the start of 2005, twelve children (youth?) from
the village of Haya - two of them girls - were taken to the island of Java by Ustad
Batar, then leader of the Haya pesantren. They were placed in several pesantrens in
East- and Central Java, but the exact locations are unknown. Some time ago their
parents in Haya had already unsuccessfully asked the government to help them
retrieving their children. The government will now try to trace the children and bring
them back to their village on Ceram.
3. REFLECTION ON THE RMS - "RMS" is short for "Republik Maluku Selatan" =
South Moluccas Republic, an area which encompasses the island of Ambon and
several surrounding islands, part of the population of which since 1950 have
considered themselves as an independent republic. These aspirations dwindled during
the following years but had a modest revival in Ambon during the recent conflict,
mainly restricting itself to some provocative flag hoisting, especially on and around the
annual "independence" day: April 25.
The RMS aspirations have always been strongest in the Netherlands, also location of
the "RMS Government" in exile.
On occasion of recalling the train hijacking in the Netherlands by Moluccans exactly
thirty years ago - thus we read in the Dutch "Dagblad van het Noorden" newspaper of
December 10, 2005, Nus Solisa (52), thirty years ago spokesman for the young
Moluccan hijackers, tells about the current situation of the RMS Independency
movement. We summarize: "The RMS government is sleeping. The leaders are old,
there are hardly any young supporters". Three years ago Solisa left the basic party of
the RMS: the Badan Persatuan ("Body for Unity"). He said: "One should have taken
advantage of the recent Moluccas unrest: due to the conflict, for several years the
Moluccas was international news. RMS representatives then talked with Dutch
government leaders and also with Indonesian president Wahid. But the opportunity
was not used by the seniores of RMS President Tutuhatunewa's cabinet. That was
the moment I left".
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
