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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. 353
2003-06-02
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Ambon, February 6, 2003
1.
ARRIVAL OF LASKAR MUJAHIDIN Rumours abound in Ambon on the
recent arrival of numerous Laskar Mujahidin. Asked on this topic,
military chief commander Djoko Santoso answered that he had
instructed his intelligence section in cooperation with police
intelligence personnel to explore on the veracity of these
rumours. One of our Crisis Centre members witnessed some 50 to 60
Laskar Mujahidin disembarking from the Bukit Siguntang
passengership at Yos Sudarso harbour, Ambon, last Saturday,
February 1. They were clad in grey-brownish r! obes, he said.
Undoubtedly they have come for social and religion-related
activities in the local Muslim community. We do not know about
possible other preparedness.
2. MILITARY CHIEF COMMANDER REPLACED Like everybody
else, military chief commander (Pangdam XVI Pattimura) Djoko
Santoso, too, had to learn from the newsmedia that he was to be
promoted and given a new task in Jakarta. The one to succeed him
as the military chief in the Moluccas is Brigader General Agustadi.
3. RELIGIOUS LEADERS ON IRAQ With concern, the leaders
of the Christian and Muslim communities in Ambon follow the
development in connection with the threat of war being waged on
Iraq by the USA and its allies. Not only do they feel sorry for
the people of Iraq, but they also fear a declaration of war on
Iraq will have its negative impact on the now rapidly improving
relationship between Christians and Muslims in the Moluccas: any
attack on Iraq might be interpreted as an attack of Christian crusaders
on a Muslim state. That is why, in clo! se cooperation, the
Muslim, Protestant and Catholic religious leaders sent out a Call
for Peace (which we sent yesterday as Report 352). In a press
conference yesterday, they explained on this message; it got ample
coverage in the local newsmedia today.
C.J.Bφhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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