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 22, 2001
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 217
1. BRIEF VISIT BY SUPREME POLICE COMMANDER / BRIMOB PROTEST –
National Supreme Police Commander (Kapolri) Da’i Bachtiar paid a two hours’ visit
to Ambon yesterday. While he was having a meeting at the Police Headquarters in
Ambon, there was a sudden burst of gunfire outside, causing people in the street to
flee to safety. Even some of the officers inside panicked. This shooting (in the air)
turned out to be an emotial statement of a number of Brimob policemen who were not
granted promotion whereas a number of their comrades were promoted to a higher
rank. These did not deserve it according to the pro-testers, since they had been
proved to be involved in the attack by muslim forces on the village of Kairatu/Gemba
(south Ceram island) on November 25, 2000. On that occasion sixteen Brimob
policemen had been detained (see Report 101 no.5), including some of those who had
now been promoted.
2. MARINES SUSPECTED OF ATTACK ON SPEEDBOAT – The attack on the
christian speedboat “Haturua” in the early morning of December 19, killing nine of
the eleven people on board, may have been carried out by marine servicemen. Based
on the information provided by Stefanus Agustinus (15), the only passenger that came
off unharmed, and by an alert policeman, investigation is being carried out by the
regional police (Polres of Ambon and the Lease Islands).
3. UPGRADING OF VIGILANCE ALONG THE SHORE – Following the speedboat
catastro-phe of December 19, chief military commander Mustopo has assigned about
sixty military to be added to the police forces on the coastline of
Batumerah/Kapaha/Tantui, to the eastern end of the city of Ambon, because time and
again passing-by watercraft is shot at from there. This evoked a demonstration by
muslims at the Governor’s Office yesterday, demanding that these military be
withdrawn immediately, since “they were unjustly being accused of sniper
activi-ties”. However, Mustopo declared that he will not give in to this demand.
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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