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, January 29, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 228
1. DEALING WITH THE CONFLICT – Before leaving for Jakarta on Sunday, January
27, Cabinet Minister for People’s Welfare Yusuf Kalla (who had not left for Ternate
the day before) was seen on TV declaring that a meeting on solving the conflict in the
Moluccas was to take place within short. It is scheduled (“Insya Allah” – If it is
God’s Will) to be held in the Makassar area, South Sulawesi, next February 6-7.
From each of the opposing parties 25 representative members will be invited to
participate in this meeting, which will also be witnessed by a delegation of the
National MUI (Musyawarah Umat Islam) and the PGI (Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja
Kristen Indonesia = National Assembly of Christian Churches in Indonesia).
2. FINDING THE ROOTS OF THE CONFLICT – National Police Chief Gen. Da’i
Bachtiar, one of the members of the team that recently visited Ambon, declared to the
press that the rumours – even accusations – about the presence and activities of the
RMS (Republik Maluku Selatan / Movement for South Moluccas Independence) will be
thoroughly investigated by the police.
When Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
Yudhyono before leaving Ambon last Saturday was asked about any involvement of
the Al Qaedah in the Moluccas, he said not to be available for any comment to this
point. Also when asked for his opinion concerning the presence of the laskar jihad
forces in the Moluccas, he was not accessible for comment.
According to “Siwalima” daily, Msgr. P.C.Mandagi, the local bishop, the recent visit
of the two Cabinet Ministers and other official figures from Jakarta had undoubtedly to
do with the international pressure on Indonesia to crack down on terrorism. Where
neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines are doing their
utmost to track and wipe out any terrorists, there seems to be no serious effort to this
end in Indonesia, so that Indonesia is more and more likely to become a terrorists’
nest.
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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