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, November 19, 2004
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 452
1. IDUL FITRI CELEBRATION IN AMBON - Last Sunday morning, thousands of
Muslims gathered at the Lapangan Merdeka ("Freedom Square") in Ambon, which is
bordered by the new Governor's Office building, the Town Hall, the old Victoria Military
Fortress and the large Protestant "Maranatha" Church with Synod building, in order to
celebrate in thankfulness the end of the Ramadhan month. It was the first time since
1999 that the tradition was restored to have this celebration performed at this central
town square. During the years of unrest it would have been improbable to choose a
location right in front of a church! But the situation has changed for the better. About
ten thousand Muslim faithful listened attentively to the message of faith and
reconciliation by Vice Governor Muhammad Abdullah Latuconsina on occasion of the
Sermon Shalat Idul Fitri 1425 H.
The christian community of the Maranatha church postponed their Sunday Worship
until the Idul Fitri ceremony was over. In anticipation of any disturbance, hundreds of
security forces surrounded the square. Apparently a number of Muslims though eager
to follow the celebration, did not venture going inside the fence that surrounds the
place, probably as they remebered that the tragic unrest had started precisely on Idul
Fitri, January 19, 1999.
2. DISAGREEMENT ON LAND OWNERSHIP - During the years of open conflict
certain areas were "conquered" and in some cases subsequently utilized by the
"conquerors". One of the consequences of restoring law and order is the return of all
those plots of land to their lawful owners. No wonder renewed conflict lurks behind any
directives in this field. Nevertheless, justice must prevail. During a recent press
conference, bishop P.C. Mandagi MSC insisted on respect for people's lawful right
that their land be returned to them. He gave the Ahuru area as a sample. He asked
the government, to whom is entrusted to uphold law and order, to secure restoring of
lawful ownership anywhere in the Moluccas.
3. ACCUSED OF EXTORTION - Provincial Police Chief Aditya Warman
acknowledges that he is investigating reports of corruption and extortion by
South-East Moluccas sub-province police chief Mangatas Tambunan and two of his
aides. It is a sample of what is happening in today's Indonesia. The investigation
focuses on various cases of corruption and extortion. Quite a number of arrests were
redeemed by sums of money ranging from 120 million rupiahs to 250 million rupiahs,
topped by a disbursement of several billions of rupiahs by Thai fishermen in the capital
town of Tual (1 Euro = Rp 11.600,-).
For fear of reprisal, it seldom happens that people have the guts to report on
irregularities committed by high officials. In this case, however, the cat was belled by
a group of ordinary people, calling themselves "Forum Masyarakat Malra Bersatu Anti
KKN" which means: "Forum People of S.E. Moluccas United against KKN
(Corruption-Collusion-Nepotism)".
4. JENNEKE AND JISKA - Paulien Parera (who, by the way, will be 50 tomorrow -
proficiat!), reports on a recent gruelling but most satisfying journey to Manusa by
Jenneke and Jiska, two Dutch girls. Their report (in Dutch) can be found on
http://www.jen.waarbenjij.nu .
NB We add a recent picture of the Lapangan Merdeka / Freedom Square. To the left:
part of the still unfinished Governor's Office Building. In de middle: Ambon Town Hall.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
