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, May 7, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 477
1. EIGHT POLICEMEN JAILED – During the tense mood in Ambon towards last April
25, the students of the Pattimura University, Ambon city location, used to execute
moderate sweeping on anybody entering or leaving the university compound. As, on
April 20, they started to carry this out on a policeman named Dominggus Maspaitella,
he resisted to such treatment. This refusal prompted the students' anger. Dominggus,
feeling threatened, called some fellow policemen in order to “discipline” the
students. In the ensuing mayhem three of the students were seriously wounded,
another was detained.
The eight policemen that were involved in the tumult, meanwhile have been sentenced
to 21 days confinement for disorderly behaviour.
2. SEPARATIST LEADER DETAINED – In December 2003, FKM leaders Alex
Manuputty and Semmy Waeleruny were sentenced to four years confinement by the
District Court of North Jakarta (see Reports 400 & 404). Alex Manuputty managed to
escape to the United States then, where he is still living in exile. Apparently
Waeleruny has been allowed to leave jail in Jakarta.
However, upon arriving in Ambon on May 4, 2005, he was immediaty apprehended
and taken to police headquarters. Police say they found evidence that during his
absence, irregular separatist FKM/RMS activities had taken place in his home in
Ambon. Besides, Semmy himself – the police said – had been involved in preparing
an RMS celebration to be performed last April 25 (which had to be cancelled due to
adequate police vigilance). Initially his wife, Elvina, was arrested as well, but released
shortly afterwards as it could not be proved that she had been involved in safeguarding
RMS documents and other separatist activities.
According to Waeleruny's lawyer, his client came to Ambon specifically to officially
state his withdrawal from the FKM (Moluccas Sovereignty Front).
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
