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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. 296
2002-06-23
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Ambon,
June 23, 2002
1.
GRADUAL
CHANGE FOR THE BETTER As a whole, there is an undeniable
tendency towards an improving mutual trust among the erstwhile
mutually opposing common people in Ambon. The road through the
Galunggung area to the east of the city is more and more
frequently used by the Christians; and the Muslim residents of
Tulehu are not afraid any more to pass through the large Christian
village of Passo. Also the Pohon Mangga area (a Muslim enclave to
the West of the city of Ambon) is open now to all traffic, except
to the ojek-s (motorbike taxis), since some of these are
regarded as unruly and apt to cause trouble.
2.
DESTROYING
OF WEAPONS IN MASOHI Recently a total of 1752 weapons,
both home-made and standard, were destroyed in Masohi, the Central
Moluccas capital on South Seram, witnessed by military chief
commander Djoko Santoso. This weaponry had on earlier occasions
either been confiscated or voluntarily been handed over by
civilians.
3.
FOREIGN
NGO ACTIVITIES The ban on any foreigners entering Ambon
issued on last April 11 and renewed on
May 2 is still in force, but this does not apply to
those foreigners that were in Ambon already before those dates.
Neither does it apply to the S.E.Moluccas and the Province of the
North Moluccas.
The
OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)
sends out weekly detailed reports on the impressive activities of
several foreign NGO-s (Non-Governmental
Organizations) in
Ambon and on various islands in the Moluccas and North Moluccas.
Those interested may visit www.reliefweb.int
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4.
DIALOGUE
ON IDP-s IN THE NORTH MOLUCCAS In OCHAs 81st
report (dated 21 June 2002), we read: A
local NGO, Lembaga Mitra Lingkungan (LML), with USAID-OTI
assistance, organised a dialogue in Ternate on IDPs (Internally
Displaced Persons) and returnees, from 18 to 21 June.
Government officials from the North
Moluccas, North Sulawesi, international and local
NGOs and IDP camp coordinators attended the 3-day sessions and
discussed problems of returnees and
IDPs. The organiser will submit the recommendations
to both local governments. LML also invited over 20 journalists
from Jakarta, Manado and local media to meet with the participants
at the end of the dialogue. The media representatives, accompanied
by local NGOs and IDP camp coordinators, will visit IDP camps in
the North Moluccas and North Sulawesi
and meet returnees and local communities in the North
Moluccas over the next few days.
5. WARNING
BY CARETAKING GOVERNOR OF THE NORTH MOLUCCAS According to
the same OCHA report, the North Moluccas acting Governor, Harry
Sinyo Sarundayang, warned at a
military ceremony on Wednesday 19 June,
that fresh violence could again erupt
in the province if the people are not vigilant. He called on both
Muslim and Christian leaders to be wary
of provocateurs that may use religion
to damage the reconciliation process.
C.J.Bφhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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