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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. 340
2002-27-12
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Ambon, December 27, 2002
1.
FOLLOW-UP OF THE BATUGAJAH INCIDENT – The incident in
Batugajah we mentioned in our latest report, took place at 8.00
p.m. on December 25. We have to make an adjustment on this earlier
report, namely: the culprit, who is known by name (Simon Saiya)
– according to the police – has not been caught yet and he has
got 3 x 24 hours to give himself up at the Police. Contrarely,
local newspaper “Ambon Ekspress” (Muslim) today has a story
that Christian young men from the Skip area came down to Batugajah
on two trucks to chase Simon Saiya; they got him and would have
killed him, had he not been saved by bystanders and security
forces.
2. VISIT TO AMBON BY CHIEF OF STAFF – On Wednesday,
December 25, Army Chief of Staff General Ryamizard Ryacudu visited
Ambon. On this occasion he stated to journalists that any decision
on prolongation of the civil emergency state must be made by the
Acting Governor.
He further said that now four battalions of 600 personnel each are
stationed in the Province of the North Moluccas, whereas five
similar battalions are operating in the Province of the Moluccas.
He also confirmed that soldiers who are guilty of misconduct, will
be punished, but that this also applies to those who put forth any
false accusation towards military personnel.
He stated, too, that the RMS is still active in trying to separate
the South Moluccas from Indonesia.
3. TOWN COUNCIL TO RETURN TO ORIGINAL QUARTERS – As a
reaction to the bomb blast on the “California” motorboat on
December 11, 2001, the Town’s Legislative Council Building in
the Bekang Soya area was set on fire on the same day (see Report
213). The building, which totally burned out, has been rebuilt now
and will function again starting on January 3, 2003.
4. GOVERNMENT WILL STOP AID TO IDP-s EARLY 2003 –
According to Jakarta based “Kompas” daily newspaper,
Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf Kalla declared on
December 24 that the Indonesian Government will stop all
humanitarian aid to IDP-s in the Moluccas and the North Moluccas
towards the end of next February. He said that many refugees do
not want to return because they then will be deprived of the
emergency aid they receive as long as they keep on staying in de
refugee camps.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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