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, May 25, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 289
1. RESTRUCTURING CIVIL EMERGENCY – The Central Civil Emergency
Administrator in Jakarta (i.e. the President) has decided to reorganize the Provincial
Civil Emergency State in the Moluccas. This is based on the apparently questionable
coordination between the local Civil Emergeny Administrator and the military and
police forces. A basic united command (Unsur Kesatuan Komando) of the Army (TNI
Angkatan Darat) will be established, to be entrusted to a still to be appointed military
chief commander. This commander will – subordinated to the local Civil Emergency
Administrator – supervise all military and all police forces. The military are to restrict
themselves to guarantee safety and security for the local population, whereas the
police forces will solely attend to enforcement of law and justice.
2. CRITICAL NOTE ON SURRENDER OF WEAPONRY BY LASKAR JIHAD – When
last May 19, Jihad forces officially handed over a number of weapons to Military Chief
Commander Mustopo (see Report 288), deputy LJ leader Ustad Mohammad Atamimi
declared that this was only part of the weaponry they had in store. This
acknowledgement encountered fierce reactions, among others from Fr. Agus
Ulahaiyanan from the Diocesan Crisis Centre. Interviewed by RRI (Radio Republik
Indonesia), Ambon, he vehemently criticized the government to let pass such
statement without carrying out immediate forced sweeping on those larger hidden
reserves. By sweeping actions on weapons in average Muslim and Christian areas
and leaving alone the Laskar Jihads, they are "straining out the gnats and swallowing
camels". Or, like Fr. Agus said: "The rabbit is caught and the lion is allowed to roam
about". The SPMM Radio reacted by calling Fr. Agus an ostensible RMS rebel.
3. DESTROYING OF AMMUNITION – 628 kilograms of ammunition and other
explosives were destroyed by the military forces on May 23 in a vacant area near Suli,
east of Passo. Thus were obliterated 88 mortar grenades, 45 hand grenades, 10
launcher grenades, 1.210 home-made bombs, 61 landmines and 268 other
explosives. These explosives included the ammunition that was recently handed over
by Jihad forces.
The Governor feels disappointed with the result of forced sweeping since May 1 and
estimates that only some 30% of standard weapons has been surrendered. The
remaining 70%, apart from numerous home-made weapons and explosives, are still
among the civilians.
4. FURTHER REDUCING OF ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY – The city of Ambon and
surrounding villages need electricity of about 25.000 KW. However, due to the
break-down of the biggest of the electric generators (5.000 KW) last Monday, May 20,
only 5.600 KW is left available now. Other generators already hooked off earlier one
by one. Now the various areas in turn are cut off from electricity supply at an average
of at least 16 hours every day. No need to say that this fact is desastrous for a city –
nearby villages included – of some 350.000 people, let alone the virtually unlimited
opportunity to malicious figures for further nocturnal unrest, both internally and
between the communities. There is hardly any hope that this situation will change for
the better – more likely it will change for the worse since the few remaining
generators incessantly work on top capacity. The Town Legislative Council has
established a team that will investigate on this mess; among others it is thought that
at least some 180 offices and private persons that can afford it, have double links to
the electricity net thus allowing them double shares, which further diminishes the
allowance to those who cannot afford it.
5. ENHANCING JURIDICAL PROCESSES – In order to cope with the countless
pending legal processes in connection with the three years' conflict in the Moluccas,
24 additional judges will be appointed within short, bringing the total number of judges
in Ambon on 27. The number of about 30 public prosecutors should be upgraded to
80.
6. REBUILDING THE GOVERNMENTAL OFFICE – The Governmental Office Building
to be constructed to replace the building that was destroyed last April 3 (see Report
254) will have eight stories and a total of 15.000 m² of office room. Building activities
are expected to start within short and may take two years to complete.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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