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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. 323
2002-11-01
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Ambon, November 01, 2002
1.
SUSPECTS OF BOMB ATTACKS ARRESTED On October 17 fourteen
(not thirteen as we earlier reported) suspects of the placing of
bombs at public sites in Ambon, were arrested in Ambon (not in
Jakarta as we earlier reported), then were transferred to Jakarta
in order to be interrogated at Jakarta Police Headquarters. On
October 22 another suspect was arrested on the island of Saparua.
Soenarko, Police Chief Commander for the Moluccas, stated that
they had been involved in at least eleven bomb assaults in Ambon,
causing several dozen civilians killed and some hundreds injured.
Search for another three or four suspects is still going on, he
said.
Most of these turned out to be Christians, members of the militant
Coker gang, though several Muslims may be involved as well. Most
assaults took place in Christian areas. Police inspector general
Saleh Saaf declared in Jakarta on October 23, that the suspects
had been paid to do their dirty job, which undoubtedly was
intended to avoid the Moluccas conflict to be solved. He also
stated based on confession of the suspects that the
KOPASSUS (special military forces), may have been involved.
General Soenarko said that the police has indications that there
is or was a cooperation between gangsters from both communities in
Ambon (Christian and Muslim), also including Laskar Jihad members.
The leader of the Coker gang, Berty Loupatty, is still on the run
and might be protected by the Kopassus, however Chief of Staff of
the Infantery, general Ryamizard Ryacudu stated in Jakarta that
Kopassus troops never protected Berty.
Following the detention of the suspects, ten mothers and wives
protested against the arrest of their sons/husbands. Relatives of
the suspects meanwhile are receiving police protection.
2. AMBON TARGET OF FURTHER TERRORISM? At a press
conference in Jakarta last October 22, Coordinating Minister of
Political and Security Affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said
that based on certain recently obtained information the
Bali bomb tragedy of October 12 may be followed by further bomb
attacks. He said that these terrorist actions may be focused on
Ambon and Poso (Central Sulawesi). Channel News Asia supposes that
these two places are considered as freeports for terrorists.
3. NEW POLICE CHIEF COMMANDER On October 24, 2002, a
new Police Chief Commander for the Moluccas was installed: Police
Brigader General Bambang Sutrisno. He replaces outgoing Police
Chief Commander Brigader General Soenarko Danu Ardianto. The
replacement is part of a larger operation involving 17 regional
police commands.
4. NEW GOVERNOR FOR THE NORTH MOLUCCAS On October 28
the North Moluccas House of Representatives (DPRD) elected Taib
Armayn as the new governor of the Province of the North Moluccas.
He will be assisted by Madjid Abdullah as vice-governor.
5. RETURNING C.Q. MIGRATION OF REFUGEES Recently 405
refugees from the island of Buru, who had fled to safety in Ambon,
returned to their respective villages in Buru, namely Waipoti,
Wainibe, Waikose and Waiula. Thus was declared by the head of
Social Affairs in Buru, Umar Manaban. They receive initial
financial support from the government.
Some 300 refugees from the totally destroyed Ambon village of Waai,
who had fled to Sorong, Papua, have returned to Ambon, where they
have been given shelter in the village of Passo. Due to lack of
funds, the government cannot give them household money.
6. ELECTION OF NEW GOVERNOR POSTPONED As the Moluccas
House of Representatives (DPRD) is not yet ready to elect a new
governor for the Province of the Moluccas, the Central Government
in Jakarta will appoint a caretaker to fill up the vacuum that
will arise from November 11 on, when the present governors
M.S.Latuconsina term will end.
C.J.Bφhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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