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, April 17, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 263 (2nd Report today)
1. PRESENT SITUATION IN AMBON – Tenseness towards the decisive date of April
25, the annual commemoration of the founding of the RMS Separatist Movement, is
building up. Yesterday we read on a billboard in the Muslim Galunggung area:
“Hoisting the RMS / FKM flag means war!” The christians of the Christian Kudamati
neighbourhood feel annoyed by the significant increase of military security forces in
their area, since they have always mistrusted the military. They would have preferred
police forces. The Governor warned that “repressive measures” would be taken
against anyone that attempts to create havoc. The security forces have been
instructed to wa! tch attentively any gathering of masses or other irregularities. Local
civil leaders of town areas and neighbourhoods have been asked to organize nocturnal
vigilance by civilians. The Governor tried to convince the people that all of these
measures were taken for the benefit of the people, i.e. forestalling any renewed
outbreak of violence.
2. ALEX MANUPUTTY SENTENCED – In November 2001 FKM leader Dr. Alex
Manuputty was sentenced to 4 months detainment because of his separatist activities
(see Report 208). He then immediately appealed to a higher court. Now this court has
come to its decision: Dr. Alex Manuputty is sentenced to 6 months detainment.
3. FKM LEADER DETAINED – This afternoon FKM leader Dr. Alex Manuputty was
taken to the Police Headquarters. We were told that he was met at his home by a
four vehicle military convoy. He will be detained for 24 hours for interrogation on any
planned action of the FKM. A crowd of several hundreds of mostly male youngsters
has been keeping watch in front of the Police Headquarters since about 5.00 p.m.,
loudly singing religious songs. It is 8.00 p.m. now and from our window we can see
that many are still there, maybe with the intention to have a 24 hrs. watch. It is
difficult to know what exactly is their motivation. To some extent it is certainly an!
expression of sympathy towards the person of Alex Manuputty. Maybe some of them
sympathize with Manuputty’s ideas. It may also mean a silent protest against
injustice that is done to the Christians. Why are Christians thus repressed whereas
Muslim provocators, such as the SPMM radio, go unhampered?
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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