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, February 20, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 467
1. WEAPONRY DESTROYED - During the period November 2004 - December 2005
quite a number of weapons were confiscated in Ambon, both firearms and traditional
weaponry. All of these were recently destroyed (burned) by the military. Homemade
firearms numbered 740 rifles and 518 revolvers. Regular guns were restored to where
they belong (either the police or the military): 24 revolvers, 16 SKS rifles and 12 US
Carabine rifles. Ammuniton, too, was destroyed, having a total weight of one ton (1000
kilograms / 2200 lbs).
2. VARIOUS REACTIONS TO KARAOKE KILLING - Up to now the identity of the
persons responsible for the killing of two people at the Karaoke Club last February 15
is still unknown. The shooting took place from a speedboat, and was directed at the
Karaoke club on the shore. In various ways people have been reacting to this brutish
act of violence. The day before yesterday an empty coffin was set adrift in the bay of
Ambon, which attracted a lot of spectators. This morning three bomb explosions
could be heard. All of this is adding to a general building up of tenseness. Political
and religious leaders are urging the people to keep calm and not to let themselves be
provoked.
A special reaction came from Jakarta, namely: on February 18, a team of six
specialists, despatched by National Police HQ, arrived in Ambon in order to back up
investigation efforts of the local police. What locally already had been uncovered, is
the fact that the perpetrators must have been professionel gunmen and trained in
attack strategy.
3. RMS FLAGS HOISTED - Last February 18, two RMS flags were spotted floating in
the air, attached to gas balloons. They must have been launched in the notorious
Kudamati area, Ambon. Another flag was seen attached to a tree in the suburb of
Hative Kecil. Local newsmedia - following police opinion - see a link of this action with
the visit of a ship (the "Columbus") on the same day, with about 500 Germans tourists
on board. However, probably most of these may hardly have noticed this action.
Anyhow, hundreds of police personnel had been mobilized in order to guarantee
safety of the tourists. According to one source, fewer than half the number of tourists
ventured to go ashore and went about sightseeing for four hours.
4. WARNING BY NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS TO AVOID
INDONESIA - The New Zealand and Australian governments are warning that
terrorists may be planning attacks against foreigners involved in tsunami relief efforts
in Indonesia, in particular in Aceh and northern Sumatra. The Ministry for Foreign
Affairs and Trade has reissued its travel advisory advising against all non-essential
travel to those areas. It says New Zealanders should not travel to Banda Aceh or to
other parts of Aceh unless the aid organisation they work for has a robust security
plan, approved by the Indonesian authorities. It recommends New Zealanders not
covered by such arrangements, leave the area immediately. Australia has issued a
similar warning for Aceh and Maluku provinces. However, Indonesia's President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono says there is no evidence of a threat.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
