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, August 30, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 486
1. INVESTIGATION ON BOMB EXPLOSION - Following the bomb explosion at the
Mardika Market, Ambon city, on August 25 - by which eight people were injured - the
police succeeded in arresting six suspects and uncovering a store of seven kilograms
of TNT, five kilograms of sulphur and 100 grams of black powder, hidden on the attic of
the house of a certain Arsyad, who is considered as the mastermind of the bomb
blast and is still on the loose. Police said that some of the arrested persons were
linked to a local hardline Muslim group, believed to be involved in previous attacks on
police and civilians.
2. PLANNING TO BUILD A "MALUKU TOWER" - The provincial government is
planning to erect a tall tower, to be called "Menara Maluku" near the village of Alang,
island of Ambon, at a cost of more that 25 billion rupiahs (about US $ 2,500,000.- ).
A number of prominent figures, including bishop P.C. Mandagi, do not agree to this
plan, since it seems to be a waste of money where so many people in the Moluccas
are still living in provisional quarters or otherwise suffer economically following the
Moluccas conflict, and where there are so many other needs that should have priority,
such as education and medical care.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
