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, December 17, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report No. 336
1. SINYO HARRY SARUNDAYANG INSTALLED AS ACTING GOVERNOR – On
Wednesday, December 11, 2002, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno installed Drs.
Sinyo Harry Sarundayang as Acting Governor of the Province of the Moluccas. The
ceremony took place in Jakarta. Sarundayang replaces Governor Ir. Dr. M.Saleh
Latuconsina, whose term has ended.
2. ACTING GOVERNOR MENTIONS FIVE ITEMS THAT MIGHT TRIGGER
CONFLICT – In a meeting with civil servants of the Provincial Government last
Saturday, December 14, recently installed acting Governor Sinyo Harry Sarundayang
--meanwhile arrived in Ambon-- mentioneed five sources of possible conflict, namely
arguments concerning land (as a major cause of any conflict), economic envy,
imbalance in natural resources, race (including adat and culture) and religion. He also
said that the time-span of his term of office will depend on the efforts of the Provincial
House of Representatives, that has to elect the new Governor and Vice-Governor.
3. ACTING GOVERNOR MEETS PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES – In the evening
of December 15, acting Governor, Sinyo Harry Sarundayang had an informal meeting
(called "Silaturahmi") with a number of representatives of various official groups,
offices, occupations, religious denominations etc. at his residence in Manggadua,
Ambon, in order to introduce himself and his family. On that occasion he explained
that his principal task is to oversee the election of a new Governor and Vice-Governor.
Another important item of his program is --he said-- the elimination of all corruption,
collusion and nepotism, starting at the high level. When reporters asked when he will
start with that latter item, he retorted that he had already begun.
4. BOMB FOUND – On December 14 a bomb was found behind the Rehoboth
elementary school in Batugantung, Ambon. Passers-by who saw a package
consisting of a bottle and a cable, warned some soldiers at the nearby post of the
741/Udayana battalion. These took the package to their post and warned the bomb
squad who then secured the bomb.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
