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, 19 January 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 462
1. NO COMMEMORATION OF JANUARY 19, 1999 - Learning of a planned
commemoration of the fateful January 19th 1999, start of the bloody protracted
religious, ethnic and political conflict in the Moluccas, provincial Police Chief Aditya
Warman forbode such event to take place. The plan was launched by the Forum
Penyelamat Umat Islam Maluku (FPUIM - Forum of Moluccas Muslim
Salvation/Rescue) in Ambon. Warman said the commemoration would probably have
negative impact on the reconciliation which is going on smoothly now.
2. FEARING TSUNAMI - Most of the densely populated island of Kei Kecil ('Lesser
Kei') in the South East Moluccas is flat and low terrain, and has no defense
whatsoever against a sea that might rise even just a little above normal. Detikcom
reveals that many residents are geared up to fly to higher locations, which are rather
sparse on that island, which - by the way - harbours the capital of the S.E. Moluccas,
Tual. Part of Tual is somewhat elevated ('Kampung Raja', 40 meters above sea-level)
and many keep themselves ready to flee there in case of an imminent tsunami.
Likewise in many villages the residents are fearing that a tsunami will struck them and
are building sheds at quite some distance from the shore. Many fishermen prefer to
work their fields instead of going out to sea. Predictions of looming tsunamis
abundant! The government, too, warns the people to be watchful.
3. PUBLICATION OF DISSERTATION ON THE MOLUCCAS CONFLICT - Under the
title "Cyberidentities at War: Der Molukkenkonflikt im Internet", Birgit Bräuchler (Dr.
phil.) presents the result of her ample investigation on the mutual influence of the
worldwide internet and local conflicts, in this case the Moluccas conflict, which
started on January 19, 1999. It is written in German. For further information see the
publisher's website: http://www.transcript-verlag.de (not earlier than next February).
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
