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, March 17, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 471
1. BOMB EXPLOSIONS - Last week, again, three frightening bomb blasts could be
heard in the city of Ambon. However no casualties neither significant physical damage
was reported. It is supposed that the persons responsible for these explosions only
intend to upset people, for all three explosions took place on vacant plots in the city.
Police investigation confirms that the bombs were home-made.
2. NO DOUBT THAT RMS IS READYING FOR APRIL 25th - On two locations in the
Kudamati area, city of Ambon, police found evidence of preparations to hoist RMS
flags on or around April 25, the annual commemoration of the RMS separatist
movement. Among other things were found: caps in RMS colours, four diskets
containing RMS documentation, three cellphones, several films, and a kite in RMS
colours (red-green-white-blue). Besides, red and green cloth of considerable length
was found, which probably was going to be sewn as RMS flags.
In Kudamati, too, four people were arrested while having a meeting on RMS matters.
Among them was already convicted Mrs. Holi Manuputty, wife of fugitive FKM leader
Alex Manuputty.
3. DEMAND FOR EXPOSING THE RESULTS OF NATIONAL INDEPENDENT
INQUIRY TEAM (TPIN) - On July 10, 2002 a National Independent Inquiry Team
(TPIN) arrived in Ambon. It was established and sent by the Indonesian government -
as an implementation of the Malino II Agreement - to carry out an impartial
investigation into the three years of conflict in the Moluccas. The team consisted of 14
people of various backgrounds, including government officials, human rights activists,
religious figures and politicians. Nine cases to be solved were: (1) the January
19,1999, incident (start of the conflict); (2) the RMS issue; (3) the Christian RMS
issue; (4) the Laskar Kristus issue; (5) the FKM (Front Kedaulatan Maluku); (6) the
Laksar Jihad issue; (7) reports of forced conversion of religion; (8) reports of human
rights violations; (9) other crimes related to the Moluccas conflict.
Now from various segments of the Moluccas population questions arise: what about
the results of this team's investigation efforts? Will at last the real actors in this drama
and their cooperators be named and brought to court?
4. ILLEGAL LOGGING - Illegal logging costs the Moluccas an estimated annual loss
of 20.000 cubic metres of timber. Most of this practice takes place in the jungles of
the islands of Ceram, Buru and Wetar, where patrol is difficult and sparse. Not seldom
local residents are willing to help in this unlegal activity because of certain facilities for
common welfare that are donated by the timber companies in exchange of local
people's "green light" and their labour.
The navy has only five patrol ships available to control the area on illegal logging,
smuggling and fishing.
5. SAFEGUARDING INDONESIAN TERRITORY IN THE SOUTH-EAST MOLUCCAS
- Viice Governor M. Abdullah Latuconsina informed the media that it is necessary to
safeguard Indonesian territory of 21 little islands bordering the South East Moluccas
with Australia and East Timor. Of these islands only 9 are inhabitated. Building
activities will be carried out on each of these islands, as a sign that they are
Indonesian territory.
6. PATTIMURA AIRPORT "CLEAN" - Director-general of air transportation (Ministry
of Transportation) Cucuk Suryo Suprodjo said the ministry recently conducted a
safety audit on 23 major airports in the country. The only airport given a completely
clean bill of health was Pattimura International Airport in Ambon.
7. "CYBERIDENTITIES AT WAR" - We may recommend a recently published book
by Birgit Braeuchler: "Cyberidentities at War - Der Molukkenkonflikt im Internet",
2005, transcript Verlag, Bielefeld, Germany. The language is German.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
