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, February 15, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report No. 237
1. MALINO DELEGATES RETURNED TO AMBON - Following the suggestion of one
of the delegates, Sister Brigita Renyaan, yesterday all of the delegates returned to
Ambon together on one plane, in casual military Hercules aircraft. On arriving at the
Governor's Office Building, security forces fired warning shots in order to disperse a
crowd that had gathered there (we do not know for what reason in fact they had
gathered). Afterwards, in the muslim neighbourhood of Waihaong, the car of
caretaking MUI chairman Haji Kyai Polpoke, one of the delegates, was thrown at with
stones twice, shattering some of its windowpanes. Asked by reporters about this
incident, the leader of the Muslim delegation, Thamrin Ely, said that it was just normal
that not everybody immediately could wholeheartedly subscribe the Malino
agreement. It was now the task of these delegates to clarify the eleven points of
agreement to the common people.
Anyhow, he hoped that the delegates could forestall any internal conflict among the
Muslims. Police Chief Commander Brigader General Sunarko Danu Ardanto, said that
the Malino delegates would be given special police protection.
The chairman of the Moluccan Protestant Church (GPM) Synod, Dr. I.W.J. Hendriks,
said that today the leaders of all Christian Churches will come together to be briefed
on the correct interpretation of the Malino agreement and be given instructions how to
make it clear to their Church members. Tomorrow morning every christian is invited to
take part in the first of these clarifying meetings in the large Maranatha church in the
town centre.
2. STORM IN A GLASS OF WATER? - In the late evening of February 13, there were
four terrifying bomb explosions on two open places in the city of Ambon. This event
was broadcasted the world over and we received quite some phonecalls asking
questions about this incident. The explosives appeared to be homemade bombs and
exploded seemingly purposely preventing any physical damage or threat to human
lives. So Chief Police Commander Sunarko did not see a link with the outcome of the
Malino meeting and - though ordering thorough investigation on the case - supposed
them to be just naughtiness of some youngsters.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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