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, July 16, 2004
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS – Report No. 444
1. ACTUAL SITUATION - This report is the first after a month of silence, silent
because nothing special was to be reported in the fields of unrest or major
reconciliation efforts. Violence has stopped in Ambon, but many christians and
muslims are still scared to enter each other's town areas.
2. QUIET ELECTIONS - Voting in Ambon and the whole Moluccas did not cause
major disturbances. About 25% of the population did not turn up to cast their votes.
Moluccas' favourite is apparently Megawati Soekarnoputri, closely followed by
Wiranto.
3. START OF TRIALS FKM ACTIVISTS - In the beginning of May 2004, the
Secretary General of the FKM (Front Kedaulatan Maluku), Moses Tuanakotta,
together with Mrs. Oly Manuputty, wife of FKM leader Alex Manuputty, were taken to
Jakarta to be interrogated at National Police HQ in connection with their part in de
celebration of the 54th anniversary of the separatist RMS Movement on April 25, 2004
(see Report 431). That event led to renewed violence in Ambon, in which at least 41
were killed. Now last Thursday, July 15, both stood trial at the Ambon District Court
on charges of treason, i.e. each in his/her own way backing the FKM's struggle for the
Moluccas' independence from Indonesia. They face a minimum sentence of life or 20
years' imprisonment.
N.B. We expect to be out of office until September 20, 2004
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
