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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. 289
2002-05-25
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1.
RESTRUCTURING CIVIL EMERGENCY The Central Civil
Emergency Administrator in Jakarta (i.e. the President) has
decided to reorganize the Provincial Civil Emergency State in the
Moluccas. This is based on the apparently questionable
coordination between the local Civil Emergeny Administrator and
the military and police forces. A basic united command (Unsur
Kesatuan Komando) of the Army (TNI Angkatan Darat) will be
established, to be entrusted to a still to be appointed military
chief commander. This commander will subordinated to the local
Civil Emergency Administrator supervise all military and all
police forces. The military are to restrict themselves to
guarantee safety and security for the local population, whereas
the police forces will solely attend to enforcement of law and
justice.
2.
CRITICAL NOTE ON SURRENDER OF WEAPONRY BY LASKAR JIHAD
When last May 19, Jihad forces officially handed over a number
of weapons to Military Chief Commander Mustopo (see
Report 288), deputy LJ leader
Ustad Mohammad Atamimi declared that this was only part of
the weaponry they had in store. This acknowledgement encountered
fierce reactions, among others from Fr. Agus Ulahaiyanan from the
Diocesan Crisis Centre. Interviewed by RRI (Radio Republik
Indonesia), Ambon, he vehemently criticized the government to let
pass such statement without carrying out immediate forced sweeping
on those larger hidden reserves. By sweeping actions on weapons in
average Muslim and Christian areas and leaving alone the Laskar
Jihads, they are straining out the gnats and swallowing
camels. Or, like Fr. Agus said: The rabbit is caught and the
lion is allowed to roam about. The SPMM Radio reacted by
calling Fr. Agus an ostensible RMS rebel.
3.
DESTROYING OF AMMUNITION 628 kilograms of
ammunition and other explosives were destroyed by the military
forces on May 23 in a vacant area near Suli, east of Passo. Thus
were obliterated 88 mortar grenades, 45 hand grenades, 10 launcher
grenades, 1.210 home-made bombs, 61 landmines and 268 other
explosives. These explosives included the ammunition that was
recently handed over by Jihad forces.
The Governor feels disappointed with the result of forced
sweeping since
May 1 and estimates that only some 30% of standard weapons has
been surrendered. The remaining 70%, apart from numerous home-made
weapons and explosives, are still among the civilians.
4.
FURTHER REDUCING OF ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY The
city of Ambon and surrounding villages need electricity of about
25.000 KW. However, due to the break-down of the biggest of the
electric generators (5.000 KW) last Monday, May 20, only 5.600 KW
is left available now. Other generators already hooked off earlier
one by one. Now the various areas in turn are cut off from
electricity supply at an average of at least 16 hours every day.
No need to say that this fact is desastrous for a city nearby
villages included of some 350.000 people, let alone the
virtually unlimited opportunity to malicious figures for further
nocturnal unrest, both internally and between the communities.
There is hardly any hope that this situation will change for the
better more likely it will change for the worse since the few
remaining generators incessantly work on top capacity. The Town
Legislative Council has established a team that will investigate
on this mess; among others it is thought that at least some 180
offices and private persons that can afford it, have double links
to the electricity net thus allowing them double shares, which
further diminishes the allowance to those who cannot afford it.
5.
ENHANCING JURIDICAL
PROCESSES In order to cope with the countless
pending legal processes in connection with the three years
conflict in the Moluccas, 24 additional judges will be appointed
within short, bringing the total number of judges in Ambon on 27.
The number of about 30 public prosecutors should be upgraded to
80.
6.
REBUILDING THE GOVERNMENTAL OFFICE The
Governmental Office Building to be constructed to replace the
building that was destroyed last April 3 (see
Report 254) will have eight stories and a total of 15.000 m²
of office room. Building activities are expected to start within
short and may take two years
to complete.
C.J.Bφhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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