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Lawamena
Victoria
Reports
by
CRISIS
CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA
Jalan Pattimura 32 - Ambon 97124 ( Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337
e-mail [email protected]
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THE
SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report No. 310
2002-08-19
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Ambon,
August 19, 2002
1. AGAIN VICTIM OF
LAND MINE – On August 14 Willem Haulussy (37) stepped on a
land mine in the woods near the village of Suli, island of Ambon.
He was injured at his right knee and his fingers. The land mine
must have been placed there not long before. The previous day a
land mine was detected in the woods not far from the village of
Waiheru on the opposite side of the bay of Ambon (Hitu Peninsula).
Military chief commander Major General Djoko Santoso declared that
he will try to obtain additional and more advanced detectors to
uncover these lethal devices.
2. LIQUOR DESTROYED – Upon entering the anchorage of
Gudang Arang, city of Ambon, on August 10, the (as passenger ship
functioning) freighter “Eliana” turned out to have 570 liters
of “sopi” (locally distilled hard liquor) aboard. Accompanied
by a minister’s prayer, within several hours’ time the
jerrycans were emptied into the sea by the marines team (contrary
to 13 earlier similar occasions, in which the prize was taken
home, leaving people to guess about its follow-up).
3. INDEPENDENCE DAY – August 17 is the annual National
Independence Day for Indonesia. This time it was Indonesia’s
57th anniversary as an independent nation. In Ambon the day was
joyously celebrated with official flag hoisting and various sport
and recreative activities, several of which were carried out by
Christians and Muslims together.
Apart from an incident between Secondary School (SMU) students at
the Lapang Merdeka, in front of the destroyed governor’s office
building – in which four students were detained by Brimob police
forces – no irregularities were reported.
On this occasion also building activities on a new governor’s
office building started with the laying of the first stone by
Governor M.S.Latuconsina. In Indonesia (or at least in the
Moluccas) with “the first stone” is meant the first stone of
the foundation. The central part of the building will have seven
stories, flanked by two two-story wings. Estimated cost: 40
billion rupiahs (equalling about Eur 4.650.000,-), to be allotted
by the Indonesian Government.
4. SITUATION IN TOBELO – We telephoned to Tobelo, North
Halmahera, North Moluccas, to check on the current situation. We
were told that the unrest has calmed down. Locals blame the
locally stationed Zipur-5 Brawija military forces for the recent
conflict. There was a demonstration in Ternate, capital of the
North Moluccas – still virtuously exclusively Muslim – against
the arrival, some weeks ago, of Marine troops in Tobelo. They are
believed to be on the hand of the Christians.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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