CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA
Jalan Pattimura 32 - Ambon 97124 - Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337
E-mail: comamq@ambon.wasantara.net.id
Ambon, December 5, 2001
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 212
Sending out e-mails is becoming more and more difficult. The only place in Ambon to
receive and send e-mails now is the Ambon post-office… if one of both computers with
MS Word is free, if there is electricity and if connection can be established.
* PROVOCATEURS’ ACTIVITIES – The town mayor, Drs. M.J.Papilaya, warns the
citizens not to let themselves be misguided or provoked by various rumours asserting
that towards the IdulFitri, Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, new violence is
imminent. He requests anybody that happens to learn about these rumours, to check
on their source and report to the security forces accordingly.
Among the christians rumours abound about preparations for attacks on christian
sites such as the neighbourhoods of Mardika and Manggadua as well as on the large
village of Passo. They also fear that attacks will be carried out on the alternative
campus of the Pattimura University near the Pohon Pule bridge (Manggadua) and on
vessels in the bay of Ambon.
* THOSE WHO BENEFIT – Not a few make a profit out of the conflict in the
Moluccas and – forestalling it to come to an end – will try and have the conflict going
on. This is not a specifically remarkable phenomenon in a country where corruption is
all but sanctioned. The ordinar daily corruption scandals are often made public by the
local newspapers, but to no avail. Conflict related profits, too, are often mentioned,
p.e. the dubious financial management by many dozens of local NGOs that have
sprung up during the conflict, the unofficial fees that have to be paid to free goods from
the Jos Sudarso harbour, or remuneration in order to obtain protection by security
forces etc. Regular undefined nocturnal shooting and – now and then – terrorist
attacks are considered to take place in order to keep both christians and muslims
living in fear and willing to pay their fees and NGOs to have their share.
* SWEEPING ON ALCOHOLICS – Since drunkenness is a major factor in causing
unrest, all alcoholic beverages are banned in Ambon. A recent illustration: when on 3
December the freighter "Mentari II" – coming from the South Eat Moluccas – docked
at Gudang Arang harbour, a large quantity of "sopi" (locally distilled hard liquor) was
found: 4,119 liters at a street value of about 41,150,000.- Rupiahs (about US$ 4,225.-)
and consequently destroyed.
C.J.Böhm MSc,
Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
Received via e-mail from : Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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