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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. 342
2003-02-01
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Ambon, January 02, 2003
1.
UNREST ON CERAM Sometimes there arise conflicts between
IDP-s and the local population. This happened also in the
Christian village of Kokroman, some 20 km East of Masohi on the
South coast of the island of Ceram. Christian IDP-s, living in
barracks in that village, had a festivity in the evening or night
of December 27, which accompanied by music that was too noisy to
the ears of some local residents. Several times they came and
asked to reduce the noise. At last one of the IDP-s, probably
drunk, got so furious that he attacked one of the complainers with
a parang (chopping-knife). The local RT (chief of the
village neighbourhood), probably trying to intervene, got killed
and was even beheaded. Hereupon the local residents destroyed the
barracks. The about 60 IDP families fled for protection to the
local police station.
2. NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION IN AMBON UNDISTURBED - New
Years celebrations in Ambon went along with general rejoicing.
Though any firework was sternly prohibited by the police,
nevertheless there was an unprecedented noise of firecrackers all
over the town. The authorities had deployed 2.700 soldiers and
policemen in order to guarantee a safe New Years celebration.
3. GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH ACTING GOVERNOR SARUNDAYANG
The Catholic community of the Cathedral Parish in Ambon was
pleased to have Acting Governor Sarundayang and his wife in their
midst during Mass in the morning of January 1, 2003. After Mass
the Acting Governor explained to those present about his mission
in the Moluccas not unlike we already described in earlier
reports. New to us was the fact that actually his principal
occupation is his work as chief of the General Inspectorate of the
Ministry of Home Affairs in Jakarta. The Sarundayangs are members
of the Protestant Church (not Adventists as we mistakenly said in
an earlier report) and, like Msgr. P.C.Mandagi, come from North
Sulawesi / Manado.
C.J.Bφhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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