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 31, 2002
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 229
1. NO CLUE TO SOURCE OF BOMBING – Barely had Cabinet Minister for Political
and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhyono c.s. left Ambon last Saturday,
January 26, when – around midnight – there were frightening sounds of bombs and
mortars being launched, mostly in the Muslim dominated areas of Air Kuning, Kebun
Cengkeh, Ahuru and Galunggung. Up to now it is not clear who in fact were the actors
of this performance, which – by the way – does not seem to have caused any
casualties or major physical damage. “Manado Post” daily sees a possible link with
the Malino agreement on Poso: Is it that the laskar jihad, being frustrated, now might
want to prevent any such reconciliation to be effectuated in the Moluccas as well?
2. INTERNAL CONFLICT LOCAL POLICE – The sound of scaring shooting was also
heard in the morning of Monday January 28 at the Regional Police Headquarters
(“Mapolres”) at Perigilima, city of Ambon. It turned out to be an internal conflict
among members of Regiment I Brimob Police forces.
3. STILL A LONG WAY TO GO – On returning in Jakarta from his recent visit to the
Moluccas and North Moluccas, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs,
Susilo Bambang Yudhyono, declared on January 29 to the press that, as a whole, the
conflicting parties in the Moluccas are fed up with the conflict and want it to be over.
However, there are certain forces at work that are ceaselessly trying to have the
hostilities go on. He urged those of good will not to give way to despair, since he was
convinced that these antagonist forces would undoubtedly be neutralized.
4. READYING FOR MAKASSAR – Delegates, both Christian and Muslim, have left
for Makassar, the capital of the Province of South Sulawesi, to prepare themselves for
the interreligious meeting that will be held there in order to pave the way for restoring
normal living conditions in the Moluccas. Among those who left for Makassar we
noticed among others the chairman of the Moluccan Protestant Church (GPM) Synod,
Dr. I.W.J. Hendriks, Bishop P.C.Mandagi and Fr. Agus Ulahaiyanan from the Crisis
Centre. Local TV last night was on line with the Police Chief Commander of South
Sulawesi, Firman Gani, in which the latter provided the following pieces of information:
The meeting, which – like the earlier one on Poso – is initiated by the Coordinating
Minister for People’s Welfare Yusuf Kalla, will probably take place in Malino, a
mountain resort South-East of Makassar. Here, too, the recent meeting on the conflict
in Poso was held, yielding success. However, the conflict in the Moluccas is far more
complicated and will not be solved that easy. Firman Gani declared that informal
meetings had started during the afternoon of January 30, notably a meeting of the
Governors of the Moluccas and South Sulawesi and some other officials, with the
Christian delegation, whereas in the evening a similar meeting with the Muslims was
due to be held. The formal meeting will most likely take place on February 6-7, 2002.
Up to now – he said – the general situation in Makassar was quiet. Of course the
police is in full alert. The military forces will stand by only in case an emergency
might emerge.
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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