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 28, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 243
1. CONTRADICTORY ADVICES – The bus with government employees that was shot
at when passing through the Muslim neighbourhood of Galunggung in the early
morning of February 25 and whereby the driver was injured at his right arm, is a bus
owned by the government of the city of Ambon. The Mayor of Ambon, M.J. (Yopi)
Papilaya, insisted that the bus should go on following its daily route through
Galunggung and Batumerah; he only asked for military or police escort. The governor,
however, admonished once again to refrain from following these dangerous road tracks
for the time being.
2. MUSLIM MASS SOCIALISATION – On February 27 from far and wide Muslims
streamed together to be informed on the Moluccas Agreement of Malino. Several
thousands gathered in the front yard of the large Al-Fatah Mosque and the adjacent
streets. For about two hours they listened to the explanation on the Moluccas
Agreement by several members of the erstwhile Muslim delegation to Malino. There
were a lot of reactions by shouting and yelling, but as a whole they seemed satisfied,
“if only justice be done”. The meeting was ended with prayer.
3. END OF THE CONFLICT? – Several thousands of young men – both Muslim and
Christian – from the nearby little island of Haruku, specifically from the five villages
that together constitute the Hatuhala area, came to Ambon yesterday in perfect
accordance. Their large crowd went loudly singing songs of unity (“Satu Nusa Satu
Bangsa”) through the city of Ambon, disregarding any borders that separate Christian
from Muslim areas. Policemen and military joined them. Even the Police Chief
Commander joyfully walked arm in arm with them. Thus they went up to the governor,
who himself comes from Pelauw, one of those five villages. He was apparently moved
and said these – maybe – historical words: “Mula! i sekarang Ambon itu aman”,
which means: From now on Ambon is free from unrest. Only afterwards he seemed to
realize his perhaps too rashly spoken words and warned the thousands that stood in
front of him that they should take heed of any malevolent persons and that they
should start surrendering all weaponry. Nevertheless, he called them an example for
all, and hoped that many others would follow in their wake.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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