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 15, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 285
1. OPINIONS ON THE ROLE OF RMS AND JIHAD FORCES IN THE CONFLICT –
The (Laskar Jihad) National Communication Forum Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah
(FKAWJ) is holding a national workshop in Jakarta from May 13 to May 22. In his
opening speech, FKAWJ chairman Ayip Syafruddin said that the Laskar Jihad would
be withdrawn from the Moluccas if the following two conditions were fulfilled: (1)
Guarantee of protection of the Muslim community in the Moluccas by military and
police forces; (2) Disbanding of the RMS separatist movement, to be effectuated by
the government.
Vice President Hamzah Haz, after opening the workshop, confirmed that first of all the
FKM (Front Kedaulatan Maluku) separatist movement should be broken up, after
which the Laskar Jihad must leave the Moluccas.
Commenting on this statement, Brigader General Mustopo, the military chief
commander of Kodam XVI Pattimura in Ambon, said that ousting the Laskar Jihad
from the Moluccas could be hampered by certain complications, since a lot of them
after these two years have already struck roots in Ambon because of their involvement
in social welfare and in educational activities in the Muslim community.
Religious leaders in Jakarta, joined in the Gerakan Moral Nasional (National Moral
Movement), too, discussed the problem. The three leaders of this forum (Kyai Haji
Hasyim Muzadi of the Nahdathul Ulama, Fr. I.Ismantoro SJ in name of the Catholic
Church and Minister A.A. Yewangoe of the union of Protestant Churches in Indonesia)
then reported to Vice President Hamzah Haz on their conclusion, like afterwards was
explained by Hasyim Muzadi to the press: it is the government’s responsibility to
investigate and state clearly the performers of the unrest in the Moluccas. It is most
likely that the unrest is fomented by people from outside the Moluccas, but one
should not hastily conclude that it is the RMS or Laskar Jihad (leaving it to
professional investigators to find out what other outsiders are to be found in the
Moluccas).
Mahmud Md, former Cabinet Minister of Defense, now chairman of the Partei
Kebangkitan Bangsa (National Reawakening Party), declared on May 13, that he
agreed to the ousting of all RMS and Laskar Jihad forces from the Moluccas. Even all
outsiders should be expelled, especially the Dutch, for these are likely to support the
RMS.
2. MINISTERIAL VISIT – Cabinet Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamzah
recently came to visit the Moluccas. After visiting Masohi, capital of the Central
Moluccas, island of Seram, he came to Ambon, where among other things he went to
survey the burned down Governmental Office building. He warned not too hastily erect
a new Governmental Office building. As long as the conflict has not come to a
solution, it might be burned again (which happened already to the new Silo church:
while still being under construction, it has been set to fire three times!).
3. ARRIVAL OF NATIONAL INVESTIGATION TEAM – The Cabinet Ministers of
Economic Affairs, of Welfare and for Political and Security Affairs have dispatched the
long awaited eleven member National Investigation Team to Ambon.
4. BRUTAL SWEEPING IN KUDAMATI – Yesterday sweeping was carried out in the
Christian neighbourhood of Kudamati, specifically in the area where FKM leader Alex
Manuputty’s house is situated. Local TV showed civilians that were utterly angered
by the savage, even traumatizing way this sweeping was carried out from house to
house. Finding no weaponry in Alex Manuputty’s house, they took away his
computer and modem, his communication facilities (HT) and other irrelevant odds. We
noticed that the only road through Kudamati was heavily barricaded by civilians.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
|
