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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. 263
(2nd Report today)
2002-04-17
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1. PRESENT SITUATION IN AMBON – Tenseness
towards the decisive date of April 25, the annual commemoration of
the founding of the RMS Separatist Movement, is building up.
Yesterday we read on a billboard in the Muslim Galunggung area:
“Hoisting the RMS / FKM flag means war!” The christians of the
Christian Kudamati neighbourhood feel annoyed by the significant
increase of military security forces in their area, since they
have always mistrusted the military. They would have preferred
police forces. The Governor warned that “repressive measures”
would be taken against anyone that attempts to create havoc. The
security forces have been instructed to watch attentively any
gathering of masses or other irregularities. Local civil leaders
of town areas and neighbourhoods have been asked to organize
nocturnal vigilance by civilians. The Governor tried to convince
the people that all of these measures were taken for the benefit
of the people, i.e. forestalling any renewed outbreak of violence.
2. ALEX MANUPUTTY SENTENCED – In November 2001 FKM leader Dr.
Alex Manuputty was sentenced to 4 months detainment because of his
separatist activities (see Report 208). He then immediately
appealed to a higher court. Now this court has come to its
decision: Dr. Alex Manuputty is sentenced to 6 months detainment.
3. FKM LEADER DETAINED – This afternoon FKM leader Dr. Alex
Manuputty was taken to the Police Headquarters. We were told that
he was met at his home by a four vehicle military convoy. He will
be detained for 24 hours for interrogation on any planned action
of the FKM. A crowd of several hundreds of mostly male youngsters
has been keeping watch in front of the Police Headquarters since
about 5.00 p.m., loudly singing religious songs. It is 8.00 p.m.
now and from our window we can see that many are still there,
maybe with the intention to have a 24 hrs. watch. It is difficult
to know what exactly is their motivation. To some extent it is
certainly an expression of sympathy towards the person of Alex
Manuputty. Maybe some of them sympathize with Manuputty’s ideas.
It may also mean a silent protest against injustice that is done
to the Christians. Why are Christians thus repressed whereas
Muslim provocators, such as the SPMM radio, go unhampered?
C.J.Böhm msc, Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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