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 25, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 242
1. NORTH MOLUCCAS: REPEATING ELECTION - On July 5, 2001, Abdul Gafur,
member of the Golkar Party, was elected to be the first governor of the new Province
of the North Moluccas, replacing caretaking governor Abdul Muhyi Effendi. However, it
was confirmed that Gafur, in order to obtain this office, had practiced money politics.
So the House of Representatives of the North Moluccas annulated the election result
(see our Report 204, October 11, 2001). But on November 2, the High Court of Justice
in Jakarta confirmed that the election had been legal and that there was no obstacle
to the installment of Abdul Gafur as the Governor of the North Moluccas, unless
decisive irregularities could be proved in court (Report 207, November 7, 2001).
However, he lost in court. Jakarta based newspaper "Kompas" reports that another
election will be held around the end of this month.
2. SAPARUA: THREE MUSLIMS SHOT AT – National daily "Republika" reports that
in the morning of last February 21, three muslim residents of the muslim village of
Kulur, island of Saparua, east of Ambon island, were shot at while fishing near the
shore of Hutamuara Tilu. They were lucky to escape unharmed. We did not find any
local christian news media reporting on this incident.
3. TENSENESS BETWEEN TWO MUSLIM VILLAGES – There is tenseness
between the muslim villages of Tulehu and Liang, both on the North-Eastern coast of
the island of Ambon. The christian village of Waai, which lies between the two of
them, last year was totally destroyed and declared to become (again?) a Muslim
village with the name of "Waai Salam". Now Tulehu has approached the residents of
Waai, most of whom live as refugees in the village of Passo, to restore normal
relations. Liang, however, is opposed to any steps towards reconciliation with Waai.
This difference in opinion has led to friction between the two muslim partners,
resulting in some minor incidents.
4. SHOOTING IN GALUNGGUNG – Disregarding the Governor’s advice not rashly to
yield to excessive optimism by entering the "territories" of one another, a bus with
Christian government employees this morning passed through the Muslim
neighbourhood of Galunggung at the East end of the city. Unexpectedly their bus was
shot at, resulting in the driver being seriously injured.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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