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 12, 2002 (2nd report today)
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 283
1. LASKAR JIHAD ARRESTED – Christians of the Diponegoro-Atas / Manggadua
neighbourhoods, together with military volunteers, were busy "gotong-royong”
(traditional voluntary work for common benefit) this Sunday afternoon, cleaning up a
plot of land on the hillside, West of the Pohon Pule Bridge. They decided to cut down
some trees that hampered their view downwards. This was thought important,
because two Laskar Jihad posts are stationed not far off. What happened then, we
learned from one of our Crisis Centre members who by chance was there and
witnessed all of it. Some muslims came to the spot, protesting against this felling of
trees of which – they claimed – they were the owners. The discussion became rather
hot-tempered, and the! military gotong-royongers started to run for their weapons, then
fired in the air in order to thwart off the protesters. However, these answered by
throwing a bomb, wounding one of the soldiers at his leg. His comrades then went
brengsek. Military servicemen guarding the nearby governor’s mansion, learning
about the bloodshed of one of their own, came to aid. The Pohon Pule bridge passage
was sealed off, thus trapping at least seven of the assailants. Within moments these
were caught and badly mishandled before being carried off on a military truck. Our
witness said that at least several of those arrested were jihads, judging by their usual
sparse beards and light skins. Though extra military protection has been sent to the
area, nevertheless many residents have fled the area, fearing further escalation.
2. FIVE-FOLD RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNOR – The Central Government in
Jakarta has instructed the Civil Emergency Administrator for the Moluccas (i.e.
Governor M.S. Latuconsina) and his aides to restore law and order in the Moluccas
according to the following stages: (1) Disbanding the FKM / RMS; (2) Sending the
Laskar Jihad out of the Moluccas; (3) Carrying out sweeping on illegal possession of
weaponry; (4) Solving the disastrous incidents of last April 3 (fatal bombing and
burning of the Governmental building, see Report 254 sqq.); (5) The hoisting of the
RMS flag last April 25 and ensuing tragic events (see Report 267 sqq.).
3. TEMPORARY LOCATION OF GOVERNOR’S OFFICE SERVICES – Contrary to
an earlier decision to house the Provincial administrative services in the recently
restored PLN (electricity company) building at the Trikora crossroads, at the end of
Diponegoro Street (see Report 260.4), this building, though representative, was
regarded as rather unsuitable after all. It has now been decided upon to rent the
Telecommunication (Telkom) building in the Tanah Lapang Kecil ("Talake")
neighbourhood, situated between the (Muslim) Waihaong and the (Christian)
Batugantung/Kudamati areas as alternative Office for at least two years. The building
was badly damaged in June 2000 (Report 1, June 22, 2000), but will now immediately
be rehabilitated.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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