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, January 14, 2003
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report No. 346
1. IDP-S RETURNING TO BACAN – A second wave of Bacan IDP-s returned to their
homesteads on the island of Bacan [pronounce ‘ba:tyan], Province of the North
Moluccas. The first group had left from Waisarissa on December 22, 2002 (see Report
338). This time it was a group of 198 families (868 persons) that had been staying as
refugees in Ambon for almost three years. They left from the Gudang Arang
anchorage in Ambon on January 13, 2303. The next group is scheduled to leave next
January 21, embarking at Amahai and Taniwel, North Ceram.
2. MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN STUDENTS' ALLIANCE PROTESTING RISE OF
PRICE ON FUEL – In the midst of various more or less irregular students' protests
against the sharp rise of prices on fuel, electricty and telephone, there was one nicely
staged protest, organized by the Alliance of United Moluccan Students, specifically
the HMI (Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam) together with the GMKI (Gerakan Mahasiswa
Kristen Indonesia) asking for a private meeting with acting governor Sarundayang –
which was granted them. Local TV showed the very disciplined meeting, in which the
acting governor promised to present the students' fair wishes to the central
government.
3. SULTAN YOGYAKARTA RECEIVES HONORARY TITLE – At the end of the
meeting of traditional leaders in Ambon, that was organized by the reconciliation
movement Baku Bae and the Pattimura university and that lasted from 9 until 11
January, Sultan Hamengko Buwono X of Yogyakarta, who participated in part of the
meeting, was endowed with the honorary title of Upulatu for his support of the Baku
Bae movement since 2000.
Interviewed in Ambon by The Jakarta Post newspaper, the sultan said he was
confident that the unrest was really over and done with now. He said, the population is
aware that their suffering is the result of several years of violence. Traditional leaders
– in cooperation with the government – have an import role to play to bring the conflict to
an end and restore normal relations.
The more than a hundred participants at the meeting made recommendations in the
fields of education and economic reconstruction. Economic recovery should center on
the sea as a major natural source of income. Ichsan Malik, one of the facilitators of
the Baku Bae movement, stated to Sinar Harapan newspaper that the Baku Bae
movement has four leading principles: forgiveness, justice, solidarity and diversity.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
