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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. 326
2002-11-08
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Ambon, November 08, 2002
1.
INVOLVEMENT ARMED FORCES IN MOLUCCAS CONFLICT – We read on
“infomaluku” that reports of possible involvement of
Indonesian Military Forces (TNI) keep appearing in the media.
There seem to be ties between on the one hand two hard-line muslim
organizations, namely the Jamaah Islamiyah and the Laskar Jihad,
and on the other hand some TNI generals. Recently arrested members
of the (supposedly) terrorist Coker gang in Ambon already
confessed that they received training and funds from the Kopassus
(TNI elite force). CNN mentioned the statement of an Ambonese
Muslim warrior, who had joined the Laskar Jihad, that the Laskar
Jihad was disbanded by TNI generals in order to hide their
individual ties with the organization. The TNI, however, denies
any ties between the military and the Laskar Jihad.
2. BERTY AND MEMBERS COKER GANG POSSIBLY IN PAPUA – The
police is still searching for the whereabouts of Berty Loupatty,
leader of the Christian Coker gang, who is suspected to be an
instigator of violence in Ambon. The police in Jayapura (Irian /
Papua) began to suspect that Berty and seven Coker thugs are in
Papua after the arrest of two men, Daniel Sangor and Ronald
Fautngilyanan, connected with an incident at the Cendrawasih
University’s campus, where Daniel possibly wanted to start a
conflict. Both have been detained by the Jayapura police for
further investigation, because they are suspected to be members of
the Coker gang (Coker is short for Cowo-Cowo Keren – Ambonese,
meaning “Bold Youngsters”, see Report 89 no.4).
3. NEED FOR EQUIPMENT TO RAISE THE WRECKAGE OF THE SUNK VESSEL –
The “Masohi Star” motorboat that sank in the bay of Ambon on
November 3, is believed to contain the bodies of more than sixty
drowned passengers. However, in Ambon there is no equipment
available to raise the vessel from its estimated 100 meters / 110
yards depth. So the governor has submitted a request for the
appropriate equipment.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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