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, 2004
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS – Report No. 440
1. BOMB EXPLOSION KILLS ONE, INJURES TWELVE - A bomb which was hidden
in an empty biscuits tin, exploded in the Ahmad Yani Street, in front of "Game" hotel
at about 10.30 a.m. today. This street has become an alternative market place and
always crowded with vendors and customers. The tin was found in a plastic bag, hung
on somebody's parked motorbike. The owner immediately gave alarm. The bag was
placed in the middle of the road. The police cleared the place while waiting for the
undetonating team. However, probably due to the hot sunshine, the bomb exploded
spontaneously 25 minutes later, fatally wounding Willem Patipeiluhu (45), a fish
vendor. He died several hours later. Twelve others were injured as well and are being
taken care in several hospitals now.
At around the same time another bomb was found in front of the (protestant) GPM
Synod building to the left of the Maranatha church, hidden in an existing but empty
flowerpot. In this case the police was in time to make it harmless.
Several other - anonymous - reports of hidden bombs were received. These turned out
to be false alarm however.
2. FKM ESCAPEES STILL ON THE RUN - Contrary to his statement yesterday,
Police Chief Brigader General Aditya Warman today confessed that the four FKM
members that managed to escape last May 9 from the cell where they were in
detention, were NOT caught yesterday. Those that were caught in the village of Aboru
and sent to Jakarta were other, newly arrested FKM members.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
