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 11, 2001
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 213
1. HARUKU: TWO CIVILIANS KILLED – On December 4, 2001, a resident of the
village of Aboru, island of Haruku, named Nelis Teterissa, was killed in the woods near
the hamlet of Nanave. The victim had been riddled by bullets from a standard rifle. A
woman, Martha Sinai-Saija, who witnessed the murder, was consequently killed as
well. The slaughter was reported to have been executed by six mysterious men.
2. BURU: VILLAGE OF EWIRI ATTACKED – After the devastating attack on
Waimulang on November 1, 2001, the southern part of the island of Buru again was
the scene of a disastrous attack on an unsuspecting village, this time it was the
christian village of Ewiri. The attack was launched in the morning of December 7, 2001
and went on for 3½ hours. Two christians were killed in this incident, three were
seriously wounded by bullets, among others the commander of the local Danton 406
Diponegoro military unit. Of the assailants one was killed, four were injured. The
protestant church and many houses were looted and consequently destroyed. The
residents of the village took their refuge into the jungle. On December 9 the military
chief commander, Mustopo, declared during an interview that was broadcasted on
local TV, that the motive of the attack was not religion related but mere revenge of a
neighbouring muslim village (without mentioning the name of this village neither what
actually had to be avenged).
3. BOMB BLAST ON MOTORBOAT – This morning, December 11, 2001, a bomb
exploded on the (christian) motorboat "California” in the bay of Ambon. The number
of casualties is still unknown. Truckloads with shouting christian youngsters are riding
around the christian quarters of the town now. The sound of gunfire is heard. The
nearby Legislative Council Building is on fire, probably a reaction of the christians
towards the inertness of the Council. A trusted muslim telephoned us just now that
the bomb blast is in no way done by the muslims: the bomb must already have been
on board previously; there was not any speedboat in the neighbourhood of the
"California” at the moment of the blast. Only afterwards muslim speedboats departed
from the muslim stronghold of Rumahtiga to try and save the victims that had jumped
into the water.
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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