CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA
Jalan Pattimura 32 - Ambon 97124 - Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337
E-mail: comamq@ambon.wasantara.net.id
Ambon, November 10, 2001
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report no. 208
1. COURT DECISION ON DR. ALEX MANUPUTTY - On November 9 Dr. Alex
Manuputty (see various earlier Reports) at last was sentenced to 4 months
detainment. On learning this decision, Manuputty said he was grateful to the Lord that
he was worthy to be sentenced on behalf of defending the truth. However, he
immediately also appealed to a higher court. The prosecutor, too, is pondering
whether to appeal to a higher court, since the sentence is considered to be too light.
2. PLANNING OF GREAT RECONCILIATION MEETING - At the initiative of the
Responsible for the Civil Emergency State in the Moluccas, Governor
M.S.Latuconsina, a great meeting on reconciliation is to be held in Ambon in April,
2002. This happening, which must put an end to all strife between the conflicting
parties, will be organized and facilitated by the "Baku-Bai" Forum in Ambon.
3. POVERTY - Sixty percent of the population of the Moluccas is declared to live
under the poverty level.
4. BOMB BLAST - At about 8.30 p.m. on November 9 a loud explosion was heard in
the neighbourhood of Tanahtinggi, not far from Mardika, Ambon city.
Reconstruction of what happened tells that two men on a motorbike came down the
wide road that leads from the police station near the A.J.Patty Street either to
Tanahtinggi or to Mardika. In the pitch-darkness (the electricity being cut off) coming
near the Maranatha Church, which is the principal church building of the Moluccan
Protestant Church, it was only at the very last moment that they found the road
barricaded, so they had to make a sharp turn in front of the Kodim 1504 military
headquarters, in which the heavy bomb they were carrying exploded, tearing their
bodies to pieces. "Siwalima" daily reports that shreds of human flesh could be found
up to a distance of 60 meters. The immediately gathering masses of christians had
ample time to walk around the site, for it was only at 10.10 p.m. that a police line was
placed. Further was noticed that the victims wore military jackets; on one of the
bodies also a purse was found with the inscription "TNI-AD" (Indonesian Army
Infantery). The remains of both victims have been taken to the city police headquarters
at Perigilima for investigation.
C.J.Böhm MSc,
Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
Received via e-mail from : Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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