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 30, 2004
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS – Report No. 426
In this issue we provide an SOS message from the Bishop of Amboina in English and
in Indonesian.
S.O.S
Herewith the Diocese of Amboina, Ambon, Moluccas, Indonesia, addresses the
UNITED NATIONS and ALL COUNTRIES in the world providing the following
information:
1. On April 25, 2004, a ceremony was held in Ambon on the occasion of the
anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of the South Moluccas
(Republik Maluku Selatan - RMS). The police force of the Republic of Indonesia
intervened, detained 24 people and secured them at the police headquarters to be
interrogated.
2. To a crowd of RMS adherents, who had accompanied those detained, to the police
headquarters, their way home was blocked by another crowd that called itself
"Pro-NKRI" (NKRI = Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia = The Undivided Republic of
Indonesia).
3. That was the starting-point of severe turmoil in the city of Ambon which has been
going on up to this moment.
4. For five days on a row the turbulence has been going on, manifesting itself in the
burning of houses and public facilities, killing of people, shooting all over the town and
people's fleeing for safety.
5. Evaluating the latest condition of which there seems to be no way out and which
causes much suffering to the civilians of the city of Ambon,
WE HEREWITH APPEAL TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND ALL NATIONS:
1. To safeguard the rights of the people of Ambon to live in security in this city.
2. To urge the Indonesian Government, particularly the Central Government, to put an
end as soon as possible to:
A. All mutual attacking between Muslim and Christian groups
B. All burning and destroying of houses and public facilities.
3. To help in caring for the victims of this violence, especially the refugees whose
number is increasing day by day.
4. If the violence cannot be stopped, to help and evacuate those Ambon people that
want to live in peace, to places outside Ambon, outside the Moluccas or even outside
Indonesia where they can live without fear or disturbance.
5. To pray for the well-being of the citizens of Ambon.
Thus we make public this SOS message. For your kind solidarity with the people of
Ambon we are most grateful. May God's Blessing be upon all of us.
Ambon, April 30, 2004
(signed)
Msgr. P.C. Mandagi MSC,
Bishop of Amboina
S.O.S.
Keuskupan Amboina dengan ini menyampaikan kepada Perserikatan Bangsa -
Bangsa (PBB) dan Dunia Internasional bahwa:
1. Pada tanggal 25 April 2004 telah terjadi upacara peringatan hari kemerdekaan
republik Maluku Selatan (RMS). Kejadian ini telah ditangani oleh kepolisian Republik
Indonesia, yakni 24 orang ditahan di Polda Maluku untuk diamankan dan dimintai
keterangannya.
2. Sekelompok massa pendukung RMS yang ikut dalam pawai RMS itu, dalam
perjalanan kembali ke rumah, dihadang oleh kelompok lain yang menyebut dirinya
"Pro - NKRI".
3. Sejak saat itulah kekacauan di kota Ambon bermula hingga hari ini.
4. Setelah 5 hari berlangsung kerusuhan, telah terjadi pembakaran, pembunuhan dan
penembakan dimana-mana, pengungsian besar-besaran.
5. Membaca kondisi terakhir yang makin sulit dan mencekam kehidupan masyarakat
kota Ambon ini,
MAKA KAMI MEMOHON DENGAN SANGAT KEPADA PBB DAN DUNIA
INTERNASIONAL, AGAR:
1. Turut melindungi hak-hak kami masyarakat Ambon untuk hidup aman di kota
Ambon.
2. Mendesak Pemerintah Indonesia, khususnya pemerintah pusat, untuk dalam waktu
sesingkat-singkatnya menghentikan: (a) Kegiatan saling menyerang antar dua
komunitas: Muslim dan Kristen; (b) Kegiatan membakar gedung-gedung dan
rumah-rumah.
3. Turut menangani korban-korban kekerasan, khususnya para pengungsi yang
jumlahnya semakin besar.
4. Bila kekerasan tidak bisa dihentikan, mengevakuasi masyarakat Ambon yang mau
damai menuju tempat aman di luar Ambon, atau Propinsi Maluku, bahkan di luar
Indonesia.
5. Berdoa untuk keselamatan manusia di Ambon.
Demikian S.O.S ini dibuat untuk disebarkan. Atas solidaritasnya kami haturkan
limpah terima kasih. Berkat Tuhan menyertai kita semua.
Ambon, 30 April 2004
Uskup Diosis Amboina,
Mgr. P.C. Mandagi, MSC
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
