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, March 14, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 248
1. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WOMEN’S VOICE – On several occasions, lately, it were
Muslim women that went up to the Governor’s Office to utter protests, especially in
rejecting the 11-point Moluccas Agreement in Malino. This is rather extraordinary,
since it could be expected that exactly the women would prefer peace to war.
According to several members of the Town’s Council these women are clearly
misused and exploited by certain persons to fulfill missions like these, in which they
are being instructed what to say and how to say it. As an example, Council member
Blandina Molle mentions the deputation of the Muslim Women’s organization, called
the FSPB (“Forum Silatuhrahmi Perempuan Baguala”) that on March 1 went up to
the Governor to utter its dissatisfaction with the Moluccas Agreement of Malino. But
when at last the Governor asked them whether they agreed to this Mollucas
Agreement, they wholeheartedly said they did. We ourselves, while listening to ! the
SPMM radio broadcast on the Muslim women’s demonstration on March 5, heard
them shouting: “If the Christians will be allowed to return to Poka-Rumahtiga, that
means war.” Such threatments are hardly conceivable to emanate spontaneously
from women.
2. SURRENDERING WEAPONRY – The voluntary surrendering of weaponry by groups
and neighbourhoods – both Muslim and Christian – is taking place according to what
was hoped for.
3. RESTORING ADEQUATE LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE MOLUCCAS – It is
generally believed now that the conflict in the Moluccas is over, or at least that the
violence has come to an end. Christians can already freely pass Pohon Mangga to
the west of the town and Galunggung at the east end of the town. Likewise Muslims
from Tulehu are not afraid any more to pass through Passo.
Thus the time has come to set to work restoring adequate living conditions.
To this end we notice several plausible initiatives:
a) On March 11, a group of high functionaries and specialists from several
Departments in Jakarta, arrived at Ambon in order to study certain programs that have
to be checked on and worked out.
b) The Social-Economic Commission that was set up in Malino (see Report 234,
February 11, 2002), too, has not been wasting its time and recently exposed its
planning to all departments involved, such as Public Works, the Electricity Company,
the Department of Industry, the Office of Social Affairs etc. The planning concerns the
whole Moluccas and will initially be focused on:
*Smartmoney for relatives of those killed in the conflict. Up to now the administration
of 1596 victims has been worked out.
*A Trauma Centre for mental rehabilitation is being established.
*The enormous problem of the refugees or IDP-s will immediately be taken care of,
concerning both those inside and those outside the Moluccas, in which will be
attempted to ultimately return everybody to his/her orginal homesteads.
*Construction and rehabilitation of houses, churches, mosques etc.
*Freeing the city of Ambon from its abundance of garbage.
c) The Governor, when interviewed by local TV, once again declared that he will do his
utmost to ensure that ultimately at the end of next June electricity supply in Ambon
will be back to normal.
d) The director of the Ambon Branch of the Bank Indonesia said that during the last
couple of months the outflow of money from the Moluccas had stopped, and now has
reversed to the opposite, which means – he said – that business activities in Ambon
are gradually increasing.
4. CHECKING ON FOREIGNERS – The head of the Immigration Department declared
that at the Pattimura Airport of Ambon and at the harbours of Ambon and Halong all
arriving foreigners are investigated on their creditability and their honest purpose of
visiting Ambon. When not meeting certain conditions, they are requested to leave the
Moluccas. This recently happened to 13 USA citizens and 3 Algerians.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
|
