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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. 291
2002-05-30
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1.
HIGHEST MILITARY COMMANDER Two-stars Major
General Djoko Santoso of the Kostrad (army) has been appointed as
the PANGKOOPSLIKAM (Panglima Komando Operasi Pemulihan Keamanan =
Operational Chief Commander for Restoring Security). At the same
time he will be the new military chief commander of Kodam XVI
Pattimura, replacing Brig.Gen. Mustopo in that function (Kodam is
short for Komando Militer = Military Command). His inauguration in
both functions will take place in Ambon this morning. Many
local civilians witnessing also the recent arrival of the
Instantly Reacting Striking Forces seem to feel unhappy
with this development and look upon it as a surreptitious change
of the civil emergency into military emergency and proof of paying
inproportional attention to separatist aspirations rather than
going after provocateurs. The same opinion was expressed in
Jakarta by Munir, chairman of KONTRAS (Komisi untuk Orang Hilang
dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan = Commission for Disappeared Persons
and Victims of Violence). He said on the commercial SCTV that in a
Civil Emergency State the military should restrict themselves to
backing-up police forces and not the other way round. However, a
former National Supreme
Police Commander (Kapolri) said on the same occasion that this
procedure was according to the law, if only the military kept
aloof from any interfering in investigation in connection with
legal processes.
2.
DISCORDANCE BETWEEN POLICE AND MILITARY Judging
by various recent statements, procedures and actions by
government, police and military officials in Jakarta in connection
with security enforcement in the Moluccas, Jakarta seems to
be rather disturbed by the apparent lack of harmony between
military and police forces, especially since the controversy in
the Kudamati neighbourhood, Ambon, on May 13, between military
Kopassus and police Brimob forces. We do not know how far this
rivalry between the two forces dates back. We ourselves when
staying in Ambon from 1975 to 1980 on various occasions
witnessed events of antagonism between the two of them in those
years. This mutual irritation lives among their own grassroots
rather than between their leaders.
3.
FRESH BRIMOB POLICE FORCES Last Tuesday, May 28,
2002, 719 Brimob troops arrived in Ambon to replace a Brimob
Police regiment that will leave this morning after serving during
a period of seven months in Ambon and on several nearby islands.
The newcomers will be stationed at the same critical places (Nania,
Gonzalo Veloso, Saparua etc.).
4.
MISSTATING HIDDEN SUPPLIES OF RMS WEAPONRY On
several occasions Military Chief Commander Brig.Gen. Mustopo
declared that four caches of RMS/FKM weaponry had been located.
Provincial Legislative Council members Max Pentury and Yunus Tipta
(together with many others) wonder why such information should be
brought into public prior to carrying out the uncovering of those
caches. Why unlike violent Muslim reaction to the detention of
Yafar Umar Thalib were not those weapons used by the
separatists as reaction to the detention of FKM leader Alex
Manuputty c.s.? Maybe there simply is not any RMS/FKM militia? And
maybe Mustopo is telling lies?
5.
ADDITIONAL CASUALTY OF SPEEDBOAT ATTACK One of
the twelve injured as a result of the attack on a speedboat (of
which the name was Oyo Star) on May 25, 2002 (see
Report 290), having
had extracted two big bullets from his chest in Saparua hospital,
succumbed consequently, thus bringing the total number on five
killed. Police Chief Commander Sunarko confirmed that the
attackers had used SS-1 and MK-3 rifles. Though both speedboats
that were used by the assailants meanwhile have been found, there
is no trace yet of the attackers themselves.
6.
PLANNING A NEW TOWN COUNCIL HALL Angered by the
fatal bomb explosion on the California motorboat on December
11, 2001, christians then laid the Ambon Council Hall in ashes (see
Report 214). Council Chairman Drs. Lucky Wattimury recently
declared to the press that a new Council Hall has been designed.
It will have three floors and will cost an estimated six billion
rupiahs (about Eur 740.000,- or US$ 665,000.-). Both the central
government and the provincial government have been approached to
provide funds for this project.
7.
FAKE POLICEWOMAN ARRESTED As was shown on local
TV, there was much hilarity among both male and female police
officers when last Tuesday, May 28, they arrested a woman that
having laid hands on a police uniform for several days managed
to function as such. Even police chief commander Sunarko could not
help laughing when he explained the case to the reporters. Alas,
she was a pitiful figure among her fellow police officers.
C.J.Bφhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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