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. 347 (2nd report today)
1. VISIT CABINET MINISTERS – Eight Cabinet Ministers and several other high
officials were expected to arrive in Ambon from Jakarta yesterday afternoon, however,
their visit was postponed up to this morning. Local radio reported that indeed the eight
of them arrived, but local TV gave the number of only four Ministers. Their visit lasted
only four hours. Various topics were discussed during a meeting with local authorities
and representatives of various offices, institutions and organizations this morning.
Especially in the economic field a number of promises were made. Moluccans were
exhorted to realize the riches that can be obtained from the sea: the central
government was ready to extend a helping hand in its exploitation.
2. BOMB EXPLOSION – At about 11.30 a.m. today some already smoking device
was thrown at a minibus when passing through the Muslim neighbourhood of
Batumerah-Bawah (the road near the sea). It missed the bus, but exploded under the
rear bumper of a subsequent minibus, causing its rear window to be shattered, but not
resulting in casualties. An angry crowd then started to throw stones at several other
subsequent minibuses, causing several have their windowpanes shattered, but
miraculously not injuring any of the passengers. A passenger car – owned by the
diocese of Amboina and having just passed from the opposite direction – was then
chased by a still unknown motorcyclist. The driver, Father Edo Besembun MSC, was
demanded to steer his car back to the place where the bomb had been thrown.
Complying to this request, he then saw his car been burned by the angry crowd. He
himself and his travel companion were immediateluy protected by the police. Not long
after, a limousine car on the upper road of Batumerah (Galunggung) was also thrown
at with stones, wounding two of its passengers.
3. VISIT OF FOREIGNERS – Due to the ban on foreigners entering Ambon, it has
been a long time ago we met any visitors from abroad. During these last few days,
however, a group of 21 Dutch people came to visit Ambon. Part of this group was an
official delegation of the Dutch government, namely delegates of the Yayasan "Het
Gebaar". Others were from the NGO Yayasan Pelita. The group had meetings, among
others, with the Acting Governor and the Ambon Town Mayor and had itself been
informed on the latest situation in Ambon and the Moluccas in general, whereby the
Yayasan Pelita deputation was specifically interested in matters of any psychic
damage to those who – in various ways – had become victims of violence.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
