CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA
Jalan Pattimura 32 – Ambon 97124 – Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337
E-mail: crisiscentre01@hotmail.com
Ambon, February 28, 2002 (2nd Report today)
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report No. 244
1. CELEBRATING RECONCILIATION – The example of spontaneous reconciliation
by the young men from Hatuhala / Haruku we reported on this morning, during the day
was taken over by many thousands of residents of the city of Ambon. The streets
were crowded with rejoicing people. For christians forbidden areas such as the
A.J.Patty Street, were full of delighted people, young and old. Also for the first time
since 2½ years, christians could be seen shopping in the Ambon Plaza mall.
Hundreds of roaring motorcycles and truckloads of singing and waving youngsters
roamed around the city. We noticed that many young christians had put on their red
caps and muslims their white caps: three years ago symbols of separation, but now
– exactly by their intermingling – ! symbols of unity, according to the national adagium
"Bhinneka Tunggal Ika", which means: Different but United. Of course the security
forces were in full alert anticipating any disturbance to happen.
2. PEACE AT SEA – On many occasions during the past three years there was
mutual shooting one at another by speedboats in the bay of Ambon, and many have
been killed or been disabled for life consequently. However, today there was kind of
"procession" of Muslim and Christian speedboats around the whole bay of Ambon,
celebrating the end of the conflict.
3. SURRENDER OF WEAPONRY – From March 1st up to March 31st everybody will
be given the opportunity to surrender his firearms and grenades, and will not be
prosecuted for having had these arms in his possession illegally. Starting on April 1st
however, intensive sweeping on weaponry will be carried out and everybody that is
found to be illegally in possession of firearms will be prosecuted. Tomorrow also any
news medium that publishes provocative reports or messages, will be called to
account for it. Thus was announced by the Governor on local TV. He added that now,
indeed, contrary to any such threatments in the past, these measures will be carried
out for sure!
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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