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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. 360
2003-29-03
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Ambon, March 29, 2003
1.
DEMONSTRATION ANTI AMERICA On Thursday, March 27, a group
of students from the Muslim STAIN Academy went up to the
provincial House of Representatives building at Karang Panjang to
protest against the attack on Iraq by the USA and its allies. One
of their statements was their objection against the inauguration
of the recently built new UN Office building on Anthony Rheebock
Street, Ambon, since the UN proved to be unable to properly
protect human rights. It was even suggested that they were backing
up the Moluccas Independence Movement (RMS).
In order to forestall any disturbance of the present calm
situation in Ambon, it has already been decided by the authorities
that the official opening ceremony of this office originally
planned to take place today will be postponed. Thus was
confirmed by Police chief commander Bambang Sutrisno on local TV.
2. OCHAS MISSION Local TV this evening showed OCHA
chairman Michael Elmquist providing to the mass media explanation
on the stance of the OCHA (Office for the Co-ordination of
Humanitarian Affairs) in connection with recent protest actions by
Muslim students against the official opening of the new UN Office,
even against UN presence in the Moluccas. Mr. Elmquist stressed
that the various UN activities in the Moluccas were exclusively
aimed at dealing with humanitarian affairs, more specifically in
relation to the 330.000 refugees, and did not interfere whatsoever
with political issues. This was sternly confirmed by the local
head of social affairs, Mr. I. Umarella, who also said that the
Moluccas still could no! t do without this valuable UN assistance.
Mr. Elmquist further emphasized that the various UN offices in the
Moluccas do not support or endorse any political group, including
the FKM (Front Kedaulatan Maluku) and RMS (Republik Maluku Selatan).
3. CLASH BETWEEN MILITARY UNITS On 25-26 March, a
trivial argument between some personnel of on the one side the
Armed-16 battalion and on the other side the Zipur-5 battalion at
Wayame, a village on the northern coast of the Bay of Ambon,
resulted in fearful shooting, terrifying local residents. The
shooting, however, did not result in any casualties or significant
physical damage, and not long afterwards peace was restored.
C.J.Bφhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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