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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. 369
2003-23-05
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Ambon, May 23, 2003
1.
SOME FURTHER DETAILS ON JAMAAH ISLAMIYAH MURDERS –
Yesterday’s “The Jakarta Post” daily newspaper provides some
details on the Jamaah Islamiyah organization, to which last
February murdered Abu Jihad and his two comrades belonged. A
source at the local police said that they were execution-style
murders and that the killers and victims were members representing
opposing camps within the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group.
JI is a shadowy terrorist organization with bases reportedly in
Singapore and Malaysia. It alledgedly aims to establish an Islamic
state in the region.
On any possible involvement of this organization in the Moluccas
conflict: see our Report 326, November 8, 2002. The three victims
were Acehnese men; however, there have not been any reports of a
JI presence in Aceh. Meanwhile Abu Jihad’s son could be seen on
local TV this evening denying his deceased father’s affiliation
with the JI organization. He was, according to him, an in whole
S.E.Asia acknowledged freedom fighter and supporter of
establishing the muslim state of Aceh.
According to local police in an interview broadcast on local TV
last night, nine suspects of the murders have been arrested up to
now, whereas three others probably have already managed to flee
the area.
2. CIVIL EMERGENCY LIFTED FOR NORTH MOLUCCAS – On May 18,
2003, by decree of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, the civil
emergency state for the North Moluccas was lifted. The decision
was made as mutual trust and understanding between the erstwhile
opposing parties (christians vs. muslims) are considered to have
reached a stage that no further unrest is feared to take place.
Civil Emergency was imposed on both the Moluccas and the North
Moluccas on June 27, 2000. The Province of the Moluccas meanwhile
remains under civil emergency. Though no acts of violence have
been reported there lately, nevertheless all-embracing mutual
trust between christians and muslims is still far-off; besides,
within short the election ! of a new Governor and Vice-Governor is
due to take place, which may trigger renewed religion related
unrest.
3. RECONCILIATION IN AHURU – In May-June 2000, the
neighbourhood of Ahuru, part of Batumerah at the outskirts of the
city of Ambon was totally cleansed of christians. All of their
houses, the two churches, the schools, the convents, the
orphanage, the pilgrim centre etc. were stripped of what was
useful, then destroyed. The road was heavily barricaded with
concrete and thick iron bars. Since then no christian had set foot
there any more… up to a couple of days ago, when Sister Brigitta
together with some others from the diocese, accompanied by
military personnel, ventured to go up there. They were received
well. This enticed others, especially protestants and catholics
whose houses had been destroyed there, to go ! and have a look
there the following day. Acting Governor Sarundayang was informed
on this fortuitous development, so that this afternoon he went
there together with the Ambon town Mayor, to have a look on the
spot himself. They were accompanied by some 200 christians. Having
arrived at the local mosque, there was an improvised but most
friendly encounter with local muslims and their leaders. It was
agreed upon that within short a reconciliation meeting between the
two parties will be held according to local adat, after which
rebuilding of houses and of public facilities such as churches and
schools will immediately start, supported by government funds.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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