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, April 27, 2004
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS – Report No. 423
1. ONGOING UNREST - Yesterday, April 26, starting at about 03.00 a.m. and going
on until the afternoon, several hundreds of houses were burned in the Tanah Lapang
Kecil (Talake) and Batugantung neighbourhoods in the city of Ambon. Also the
Christian-Protestant UKIM University, which had been rebuilt after having been
destroyed in 2000, again became a prey of the flames. The alternative Governor's
Office building - situated in the Tanah Lapang Kecil area - was abandoned as soon as
the riots started, and up to now has been used as snipers' nest. One of their victims
today was a Brimob Policeman, yesterday arrived from Jakarta, today sent back in a
body-bag. A comrade of his was seriously wounded. Yesterday two other Brimob
policemen were killed. Today the destructive activities of burning and destroying
continued in a lesser way, thanks to more significant performance of security forces.
A planning by christian youngsters from the Kudamati neighbourhood to go down and
stage an attack could be prevented by the chairman of the Protestant Synod, Minister
Izak Hendriks.
The death-toll at this moment is 26, of whom 17 in the (Muslim) Al Fatah hospital.
Those wounded number 180.
The recently arrived medical team consists of 31 doctors, who are being assigned to
the seven hospitals of Ambon city.
2. DISEMBARKING PASSENGERS MOLESTED - 25 Christian passengers coming
from Kupang, having disembarked from the MS Doloronda ship, were met by police
trucks to take them to safety through the muslim dominated harbour area. However
the ten accompanying police officers could not prevent all passengers being thrown at
with stones and even stabbed with knives. All of them are being treated now in the
Bakti Rahayu hospital and the GMP Hospital (which - by the way - for security
reasons, has been evacuated to the Baileo Oikumene building).
3. MEETING OF AUTHORITIES - Provincial and local authorities, together with
religious leaders and leaders of political parties, assembled this morning to evaluate
the present grim situation and discuss steps to be taken to put an end to the conflict.
4. BETWEEN WHOM IS THE FIGHTING - The skirmishing is not between those who
fight for Moluccas independence (FKM / RMS) and those who defend the undivided
republic of Indonesia. The FKM / RMS adherents are just a small group of several
hundreds who never take up any arms, whereas the attackers cannot be identified as
the muslim community. Ambon "Siwalima" daily newspaper appropriately calls the
attackers "terrorists": a restricted number of muslim people that use the opportunity
to create havoc, enrich themselves by plundering and enjoy the "thrill" of sadism.
Those attacked are christians who likewise reject the FKM / RMS aspirations. In
retaliation they not seldom degrade themselves into becoming "terrorists" as well.
Why are christians seen as FKM / RMS supporters? Muslims become infuriated
when confronted with a FKM / RMS show. Christians just shrug and go on with their
business.... In the eyes of Muslims they should be infuriated as well!
5. FIGHTING STILL RESTRICTED TO AMBON / POKA - Christians that happen to
arrive from Waai via Tulehu, a large muslim village to the east of Ambon city, tell that
in Tulehu life goes along as normal and there is no sign of any ill-feelings towards
christians.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
