It was late afternoon in Breda, The Netherlands, on Saturday two weeks ago. A man received a telephone call from Jakarta. He said the caller was a senior ranking military man. The officer whispered: it's about an old case being discussed widely by the public. He asked this man to look for a man named Ongen Latuihamallo. The case in question was the death of human rights activist Munir. Who was the officer that called? The man refused to tell.

However, looking for Ongen, an Ambonese singer living in Holland, whom police say is connected with Munir's death, is no easy task. Looking for Ongen, even if he is in Holland, is like a needle in a haystack – concealed among thousands of other Ambonese in The Netherlands.

There are 64 areas where people from Ambon live – known as wiyk – in Holland. There are 30,000 people, more or less, of Ambon heritage in these areas. In the Breda Wiyk alone, which is a small town in the southern part of the country, there are 250 families comprising about 1,000 Ambonese. They live in about 150 homes.

To find an Ambonese, you just need to ask where the Ambon neighborhoods are. People on the sidewalk will gladly point you in the right direction. But what if you are looking for Ongen? That is difficult, even though Ongen is not a stranger there.

Almost all Ambonese whom Tempo met in The Netherlands knew of this long-haired man. "Ongen, the singer?" was the general reply. In the Ambon communities, Ongen is famous for his golden voice. He often performs at cultural events, especially the Pasar Malam-an annual party for Indonesians in Holland. He is frequently a guest star in Ambonese bands trying to build a career in Holland.

But Ongen seldom stays in one place for long in The Netherlands. He has friends who live in the wiyk. "Last week he was here, but now I don't know," said F.M.B. Pattinasarany, who is better known by the nickname Opa Bomy. This 90-year-old man is the uncle of Ongen's wife, Etha Pattinasarany. Ongen often stays at Opa Bomy's house when he is in Breda. "But I'm old. If he stays here, there is no one to take care of him. So he leaves. Maybe he has already returned to Indonesia by now," said Bomy, who has lived in Holland for 50 years.

Bomy lives in a two-floor, 5x7-meter home in a row of small houses in the Breda Wiyk area. There is a small garden in front of the house, and another behind it. The first floor has a guestroom which also serves as a dining room and kitchen. There are two bedrooms on the second floor.

There is a church, a park, and a meeting hall which has a cafe and a place to play music. This is where Ongen usually spends his time when he is at the wiyk.

According to Opa Bomy, whenever he is in Jakarta he often stays at Ongen's home in Bintaro, South Jakarta. He said that he does not know Ongen's exact address. "I'm picked up, so I never know the address. He has never written down his phone number," said Bomy. According to this grandfather, Ongen's parents have long since passed away. "Ongen is a good person. He has sung in the church since childhood," he said. So, "it's not possible that he became a criminal."

People living in the Ambon neighborhoods in Breda gave bits of information. "Oh, Ongen. He's in Holland now?" one asked. Another said: "Ongen has gone to Tiel." Tiel is a small, quaint old town located in the West Gelderland area of the country.

While searching for Ongen, Tempo met the man who received that telephone call. "I was only ordered to find Ongen here," said the man. He said he has known Ongen since 2003. Although they are not close, he knows about Ongen's activities, given he has lived in The Netherlands for the past 10 years.

"He is an artist, so he is like the wind. Difficult to find," said the man. Was he ever involved in illegal activities? Some have claimed that he was close to an ecstasy drug ring? asked Tempo.

"He doesn't get into that. I know all the dealers here. He is not one of them."

Then who does he associate with here?

"With people in the wiyk, other artists."

Why are you looking for Ongen?

"I was informed about the Munir case. I have not been following the case. I have only been told to look for him."

What will you do if you find him?

"I was only told to tell him to be careful, because people are looking for him."

To be careful? Looking for him to protect him or to threaten him?

"I don't know," said the man, shrugging. "My job is only to find him and convey that message. I have already told them that Ongen is not here, so my job is finished."

Now what?

"My job is finished. A day ago, I received an SMS. It was short: 'The person has been found'."

- Asmayani Kusrini (Breda)