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 17, 2003
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS – Report No. 401
1. POLICE MOBILE BRIGADE DISPATCHED – Antara Newsagency reports that a
company of Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members has been dispatched to the
Province of the Moluccas to carry out the ninth so-called Mutiara (diamond) Operation
2003. The Mutiara Operation refers to restoration of public order following a peaceful
settlement of the conflict which razed during the period 1999-2002. The Brimob
members will be assigned here for a period of six months during which they will be
authorized to take all necessary measures to protect the Maluku people from any
imminent threats to peace and tranquillity.
2. STILL A LONG WAY TO REAL RECONCILIATION – Under the title "Fear hinders
Maluku reconciliation after bloody Muslim-Christian conflict" we read on Channel
News Asia the impression of a French journalist of Agence France Presse, which
may well epitomize the present situation in Ambon. We provide some quotations from
the article as follows: "Christians and Muslims in Indonesia's Maluku islands are
trying to learn again how to live with each other, 21 months after a peace accord [ the
Malino Agreement of February 12, 2002 ] ended three years of bloody fighting. But
fear, fuelled by memories of the thousands of dead, still divides them. Ruined
churches and mosques and hundreds of shattered or fire-gutted homes disfigure the
streets. Their faded walls bear few bullet holes: neighbours and friends slaughtered
each other mainly with machetes or home-made bombs. Anthony Badha, a local
United Nations humanitarian official said, 'Fear still needs to be conquered and that
cannot be done in a day or a month or even a year.' Local officials, too, paint a picture
of life returning to normal and a continuing reconciliation process. Financial help is
given to encourage the refugees to return home and rebuild. But lingering fears keep
Ambon a divided city. A 'neutral' zone, the former front line, delineates Muslim and
Christian sectors. The zone, with markets, administrative buildings and a commercial
centre, is one of the few places where friends from the two sides can meet. 'It's not
safe to return home and in any case my house has been rented again,' said Raihun
Umagap, 41, a Muslim in a camp of more than 3,000 refugees. A sniper killed her
husband in 1999 as he was leaving a mosque. Jacob Hukom has lived since 1999 in a
camp housing more than 700 Christians. His son Pascal was born there. 'My house in
the Muslim area of Batumerah has been burnt out,' he said. 'I can't go back there, I'm
too scared. But I don't want to live out my life here.' 'I'm always scared and I don't
know why,' said Diana, a Christian student aged 25. 'But there was so much killing.
Never did we imagine at the outset that the situation would become so terrible.'
Almost two years after peace came, each side refuses to accept the blame for the
bloodshed and resentments fester. The Maluku Christians felt threatened by Muslim
migrants and accused army units of siding with Muslims during the war. Muslims
accuse Christians of monopolising local government jobs. Both sides agree that
outsiders fuelled the conflict. The Christians say some soldiers and national
politicians provoked and fuelled the violence. In May 2000, 3.000 members of the
Laskar Jihad Islamic militia arrived, bent on waging a holy war against Christians.
Authorities did nothing to stop the arrival, strengthening Christian suspicions. Last
year Laskar Jihad announced it was disbanding and most members left the Moluccas.
But some of them – one hundred, according to a Muslim source – are still there.
'Laskar Jihad no longer exists. The war is over. We are here for humanitarian
activities, social work and for sharia (Islamic law),' said Mohammad, 28, clad in a
white robe and sporting a wispy beard. He was speaking at a small clinic run by five
militants in a Muslim district.
The other challenge is to revive the economy and find jobs for young people. "Investors
can come back, the situation is safe," said the head of the investment coordinating
agency, Yodie Patty. But 60 percent of foreign investment is in just one sector,
fishing. Since the end of the war it has amounted to just 183,000 dollars. 'The main
problem is making Maluku people feel comfortable again in their own land and getting
them to rebuild,' said provincial governor Karel Albert Ralahalu. 'It needs time -- a long
time.' "
N.B. Your informant will be out of office from Nov.21 to Dec.12 – There will be no
reports meanwhile.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
