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, Mei 14, 2004
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS – Report No. 435
1. MYSTERIOUS LETTER - Among the muslim population of the city of Ambon an
unsigned letter is being spread, purportedly drawn up by the GPM Church (the official
protestant Church in the Moluccas) containing the instruction to all GPM christians to
support the candidature of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the next president of the
Republic of Indonesia, for in that way further christianization of Indonesia will be
successful. In a Press Release dated May 11, 2004, the GPM Crisis Center together
with the GPM Advocacy Department denies having spread any such letter, nor can be
expected to do such thing. Further, all kinds of inconsistencies and mistakes in the
letter, are sufficient proof that the letter is a fake and probably aims to provoke people
to continue the unrest.
2. RUMOURS ABOUND - Various rumours do not contribute to stability in Ambon.
However, apparently the citizens of Ambon are not ease to provoke any more.
- It was said that in the village of Benjina, Aru Archipelago, 600 km S.E. of
Ambon, nine Muslims had been butchered. These Muslims allegedly were from
Pelauw and Kailolo, island of Haruku. After thorough investigation, the military
chief commander stated that this report was wholly fictive.
- It was said that seven Muslims had been slaughtered at sea underway from
Sorong (Papua) to Ambon. The truth turned out to be that indeed last May 7,
due to bad weather, a fisherboat (named KM Inama 12) had capsized in the
Aru Sea, resulting in the death of seven crew members. Seven others were
rescued.
- It was said that the new Moluccas Police Chief, Brig.Gen. Aditya Warman, last
Monday, May 10, had a secret meeting with former Laskar Jihad leader Ja'far
Umar Thalib. This, too, turned out to be false information. There was only an
informal meeeting with the Muslim religious leaders; likewise was done with
Christian religious leaders.
- It is said that a number of Laskar Jihad or Laskar Mudjahiddin from outside the
Moluccas are in Ambon now. This was strongly denied by Vice Governor
Mohammad Abdullah Latuconsina during an interview with the mass media
today.
- It is said that Christians slaughtered a number of Muslims that disembarked
from the K.M.Doloronda passengership in Kupang (NTT Province) as retaliation
for the butchering of several christians from Kupang by Muslims in Ambon (see
Reports 423-424). The governor of the Moluccas, Karel Ralahalu, declared that
on this topic he had got in touch with the NTT Province Governor, who declared
that this story was utterly untrue.
3. RMS MILITARY ARRESTED - A military serviceman was arrested last night
because suspected of adherence to the RMS / FKM separatist movement. He had a
homemade rifle and a grenade on him. Asked a journalist: "What sentence can the
culprit expect if found guilty?" Answered military chief Commander Kodam
XVI/Pattimura, Maj.Gen.TNI Sarifuding Summah: "Death!"
4. WAYS TO RECONCILIATION - Christians and Muslims in Ambon are united in
their wish to end all hostility. However, how to overcome mistrust, how to convince
extremists to refrain from violence, how to detect the real trouble-shooters? Here are
some samples of mutual approach and sincere attempts to reconciliation:
- A rather small group of the "Gerakan Mahasiswa National" (National Students'
Movement) orchestrated a demonstration at the Governor's Office demanding to
wipe out the (what they called) "Gerakan Pengacau Keamanan" or GPK
(Security Distorters' Movement). They also demanded to abandon the stigmas
"Muslim is identical with NKRI (Undivided Republic of Indonesia)" whereas
"Christian is identical with RMS / FKM".
- This evening's local TV showed a board of three prominent Muslim leaders,
who - among a number of other things - stated (1) that there must be no
dialogue of the government with the RMS / FKM; (2) that the conflict is not
between religions but between those who want to live in peace and those who
want to stir up unrest.
- TV also mentioned a meeting, this morning, between the leaders of the large
(Christian) village of Passo, about 12 km to the East of Ambon city and the
(Muslim) neighbourhood of Batumerah at the Eastern end of the city. The
reporters lamented the meeting being closed to the mass media. At the
meeting were also present the Vice Governor and the Vice Mayor of Ambon.
The participants were significantly smiling after the meeting, so no doubt it was
successful. A report on the meeting by the Vice Governor was promised.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
