No subject

(DOM). During this period thousands of people, mostly civilians, died as a 
result of clashes, torture and acts of vengeance. 

The conflict has also left thousands of orphans and widows who badly need 
social assistance. 

The government has repeatedly claimed that it has failed to rebuild Aceh 
because of continuous attacks blamed on GAM. 

Despite it being Indonesia's richest western province, Aceh will likely become 
the second province in the country to receive World Bank financial aid due to 
the prolonged armed conflict. 

Previously, donors from around the world pledged US$523 million in aid to 
Indonesia's former province of East Timor after pro-Jakarta militiamen went on 
a rampage, reportedly killing up to 1,000 people and devastating towns, 
following a vote for independence from Indonesia in August 1999. 

Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador Yutaka Iimura, who was present at the meeting in 
the minister's office, said the Tokyo meeting was expected to be the first in a 
series of meetings on various issues concerning the Aceh problem. 

"I think a peaceful solution is the best way for Aceh so as to allow for the 
rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh," Iimura said. 

Iimura declined to put a figure on the total funds that might be provided by 
donor countries. 
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Crisis Centre Diocese Of Amboina
Jalan Pattimura 32 – Ambon 97124 – Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195   Fax 0062 (0)911 355337   E-mail 
crisiscentre01 at hotmail.com 

Ambon, November 26, 2002
The Situation In Ambon / Moluccas – Report No. 332

1. Military Exercises – Towards the end of May, 2002, two battalions (3000 men) 
of PPRC KOSTRAD-forces were sent to Ambon (see Report 290). KOSTRAD stands for 
Komando Strategis Angkatan Darat = “Strategic Army Command”. PPRC stands for 
Pasukan Pemukul Reaksi Cepat = “Quick Response Forces”. The PPRC would mainly 
occupy themselves with training activities. Personally witnessed by Jakarta 
based Army Commander General Endriartono Sutarto, a large scale exercise of the 
PPRC started last November 23 with a landing of troops at Pattimura Airport and 
a landing of marines at Natsepa beach. Ambon had been chosen for their 
exercises in order to make them familiar with the local geographic situation, 
so that in any future case of emergency they will be able to “respond quickly” 
as a striking force.

2. Bali – Ambon Connection? – Several Java based newspapers report that the 
police in the Moluccas is tracing the chemical substances which Bali bombing 
suspect Amrozi said had been sent to Ambon. It is also suspected that weapons 
found nearby Amrozi’s house in Lamongan, East Java, were stolen from the police 
Mobile Brigade’s headquarters in Tantui (adjacent to Ambon town). This happened 
on June 21-22, 2000, when this Brimob Police HQ was assailed and set ablaze by 
Muslim/Jihad forces. Officers’ houses and the police hospital, too, became prey 
to the flames. The weapons storage – which is thought to have contained some 
800 weapons and other lethal devices then – was looted before being burned 
down. Only part of these weapons were recovered afterwards.

3. Does Ambon Want To Get Rid Of Its IDPs? – These days numerous meetings are 
held by the governor and other authorities with masses of refugees in the 
various neighbourhoods in Ambon, trying to convince the refugees, especially 
those from the islands of Buru and Seram, to return to their original 
homesteads. However, according to trustworthy persons (like some parish priests 
that recently returned from a survey to their erstwhile parishes) some of the 
Muslim-held places cannot yet be considered as completely safe for Christians. 
But the authorities seemingly do not care. Refugees are offered houses of 4x5 
meters, without kitchen and without toilet/bathroom. The refugees insist that 
they should rather be given cash (between 5 and 15 million rupiahs = US$ 525.- –
 US$ 1,575.-) than “complete” houses or building materials, in order to be able 
to build their future homes according to own insight and more effectively.

C.J.Böhm msc
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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Laksamana.net
Regions: Lampung Convicts Still on Run
November 24, 2002 11:22 PM, 
 
Laksamana.Net - Lampung police are still looking for several escaped convicts 
following a mass break out from East Lampung's Sukadana detention center two 
weeks ago. 

The 44 prisoners, who were unguarded, escaped through unlocked doors as they 
were served sahur’ (the meal eaten before daybreak during the fasting month) at 
2.30 am on November 13. 

So far police have managed to catch only three of the escapees. Two prisoners 
were captured and the other, Adhari, 36, gave himself up after being persuaded 
to do so by his family. 

Adhari, detained on charges of stealing cocoa, told police he joined the others 
in fleeing detention as he was frightened of his cellmates. 

In the confusion police mistakenly shot at a local resident, prompting nearby 
neighbors to gather in force and set fire to the Sukadana police station, some 
250 kilometers east of the provincial capital. 

A special team investigating the case questioned security officers and 
prisoners, and noted a number of irregularities during their investigation, 
including three doors left unlocked and an absence of guards. 

Lampung regional justice office chief Soemarsono A. Karim has already sacked 
prison chief Heru Setiana for negligence. Karim told the Lampung Post he was 
ashamed of the incident and that problems with insufficient staff and a below-
standard building made it easier for mistakes to occur. 

Four wardens have been also been declared suspects and six others are to be 
demoted for leaving the main gate unlocked. 
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Laksamana.net
Regions: Kalimantan Fishing Peril
November 24, 2002 11:22 PM, 
 
Laksamana.Net - A 42-year-old man electrocuted and drowned while using a 
homemade stunning device to catch fish in a river in the town of Sampit, scene 
of mass ethnic violence and slaughter some 18 months ago. 

Indonesian fishers frequently resort to unconventional fishing methods - 
including electrocution, explosives, and poisons such as cyanide - to increase 
their haul. In doing so they deplete fish stocks and damage the environment. 
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