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 30, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 291
1. HIGHEST MILITARY COMMANDER – Two-stars Major General Djoko Santoso of
the Kostrad (army) has been appointed as the PANGKOOPSLIKAM (Panglima
Komando Operasi Pemulihan Keamanan = Operational Chief Commander for
Restoring Security). At the same time he will be the new military chief commander of
Kodam XVI Pattimura, replacing Brig.Gen. Mustopo in that function (Kodam is short
for Komando Militer = Military Command). His inauguration in both functions will take
place in Ambon this morning.
Many local civilians – witnessing also the recent arrival of the "Instantly Reacting
Striking Forces" – seem to feel unhappy with this development and look upon it as a
surreptitious change of the civil emergency into military emergency and proof of
paying inproportional attention to separatist aspirations rather than going after
provocateurs. The same opinion was expressed in Jakarta by Munir, chairman of
KONTRAS (Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan = Commission
for Disappeared Persons and Victims of Violence). He said on the commercial SCTV
that in a Civil Emergency State the military should restrict themselves to backing-up
police forces and not the other way round. However, a former National Supreme Police
Commander (Kapolri) said on the same occasion that this procedure was according to
the law, if only the military kept aloof from any interfering in investigation in connection
with legal processes.
2. DISCORDANCE BETWEEN POLICE AND MILITARY – Judging by various recent
statements, procedures and actions by government, police and military officials in
Jakarta in connection with security enforcement in the Moluccas, "Jakarta" seems to
be rather disturbed by the apparent lack of harmony between military and police
forces, especially since the controversy in the Kudamati neighbourhood, Ambon, on
May 13, between military Kopassus and police Brimob forces. We do not know how
far this rivalry between the two forces dates back. We ourselves – when staying in
Ambon from 1975 to 1980 – on various occasions witnessed events of antagonism
between the two of them in those years. This mutual irritation lives among their own
grassroots rather than between their leaders.
3. FRESH BRIMOB POLICE FORCES – Last Tuesday, May 28, 2002, 719 Brimob
troops arrived in Ambon to replace a Brimob Police regiment that will leave this
morning after serving during a period of seven months in Ambon and on several nearby
islands. The newcomers will be stationed at the same critical places (Nania, Gonzalo
Veloso, Saparua etc.).
4. MISSTATING HIDDEN SUPPLIES OF RMS WEAPONRY – On several occasions
Military Chief Commander Brig.Gen. Mustopo declared that four caches of RMS/FKM
weaponry had been located. Provincial Legislative Council members Max Pentury and
Yunus Tipta (together with many others) wonder why such information should be
brought into public prior to carrying out the uncovering of those caches. Why – unlike
violent Muslim reaction to the detention of Yafar Umar Thalib – were not those
weapons used by the separatists as reaction to the detention of FKM leader Alex
Manuputty c.s.? Maybe there simply is not any RMS/FKM militia? And maybe
Mustopo is telling lies?
5. ADDITIONAL CASUALTY OF SPEEDBOAT ATTACK – One of the twelve injured
as a result of the attack on a speedboat (of which the name was Oyo Star) on May
25, 2002 (see Report 290), having had extracted two big bullets from his chest in
Saparua hospital, succumbed consequently, thus bringing the total number on five
killed. Police Chief Commander Sunarko confirmed that the attackers had used SS-1
and MK-3 rifles. Though both speedboats that were used by the assailants meanwhile
have been found, there is no trace yet of the attackers themselves.
6. PLANNING A NEW TOWN COUNCIL HALL – Angered by the fatal bomb
explosion on the "California" motorboat on December 11, 2001, christians then laid
the Ambon Council Hall in ashes (see Report 214). Council Chairman Drs. Lucky
Wattimury recently declared to the press that a new Council Hall has been designed.
It will have three floors and will cost an estimated six billion rupiahs (about Eur
740.000,- or US$ 665,000.-). Both the central government and the provincial
government have been approached to provide funds for this project.
7. FAKE POLICEWOMAN ARRESTED – As was shown on local TV, there was
much hilarity among both male and female police officers when last Tuesday, May 28,
they arrested a woman that – having laid hands on a police uniform – for several days
managed to function as such. Even police chief commander Sunarko could not help
laughing when he explained the case to the reporters. Alas, she was a pitiful figure
among her "fellow" police officers.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
|
