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, 1 February 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 464
1. AGAIN CONFLICT BETWEEN "SISTER" VILLAGES - Peace that was made
between between Hitu Lama and Hitu Messing, two neighbouring Muslim villages on
the North coast of Ambon island, following their mutual conflict on December 14,
2004, did not last long. During the night following last January 29th, the conflict, which
is mainly between two gangs of warring youths, flared up again. Shots were fired and
bomb explosions could be heard. The arrival of Brimob police forces put an end to the
quarrel. Four houses were destroyed, but there were no casualties. Four people have
been detained. Police and government officials have met with local leaders in both
villages to try and neutralize the tension.
2. MANY REFUGEE FAMILIES NOT YET RETURNED - In the province of the North
Moluccas there are still 1,350 registered families that during the conflict fled from the
province of the Moluccas seeking for safety in the North Moluccas. Governments of
both provinces are now trying to find ways for returning these people to their original
places.
3. OUTBREAK OF DEHYDRATION DISEASE (MUNTABER) - In Ambon the feared
disease of "Muntah Berak" (dehydration and diarrhoea) is rapidly spreading during the
last few days, mainly among children under the age of two. Their number is now about
one hundred. Several have already recovered, but for others medical aid came too
late. One of the causes of this disease - which is sort of cholera - is the lack of
hygiene. Indeed at many places in the city of Ambon. handling of garbage is still
inadequate. We happened to see some recently arrived modern garbage trucks, a
donation from the town of Vlissingen (The Netherlands), but the workers are
seemingly still being instructed how to operate them.
4. PRISON DIRECTOR ARRESTED - Recently a notorious drugs dealer and gambling
king, named Hartono Tanaya - alias Tiong - escaped from the prison in Nania/Ambon
where he was being detained. He even managed to get on an airplane and thus fled
out of the Moluccas. In connection with this breakout, the director of the prison, Taher
Slamat, together with three prison employees, has been detained on suspicion of
cooperation with the fugitive.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
