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, November 9, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 492
1. POVERTY IN THE MOLUCCAS – According to the Office of Statistics, 126,000
families in the Moluccas live under the poverty level, this is 34% of the 1,2 million
residents of the Province of the Moluccas (North Moluccas is a Province on its own).
Thus was declared by the Governor of the Moluccas to the press. He added that, in
order to enhance decent living conditions, the Government will allot funds to 841
villages at an amount of 250.000.000,- Rupiah (Eur 21.500,-) each. Funds are being
allocated to 352 villages already; the others will follow in due time. The funds are to be
spent on infra structure items like clean water projects, irrigation systems, bridges,
roads etc.
2. QUAKE HITS THE ISLAND OF BURU – At least four residents suffered serious
injuries when a 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit Batabual district in the southern part of
Buru island, on November 4, 2005. Thus was reported on local TV. We read in The
Jakarta Post, that the quake, which also left dozens of other residents lightly injured,
damaged 37 houses, with the village of Wamsisi suffering the worst of the damage.
Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu and several other officials visited the village and
promised immediate aid.
3. HUNTING FOR TERRORISTS – In the attempt of catching the terrorists Jodi and
Arsyad – the latter suspected of masterminding the bomb explosion at the Mardika
Market in Ambon last August 25, injuring eight people (see Report 486) – the police
combed out the entertainment park of Waihaong neighbourhood in Ambon city last
November 7. On that occasion 14 people were arrested because unable to show an
identity card. Seven others were detained elsewhere in the city. Among these there
might be some that are involved in a terrorist network, i.e. a terrorist group under
coordination of Arsyad, Iwan and Jodi, that had attacked a police brigade post in the
village of Lokki on May 16, 2005 (Report 478) and were suspected of other terrorist
acts in the Moluccas as well. Leonidas Braksan, chief of the regional police
headquarters, said to Antara news agency that according to some witnesses, Iwan
had left Ambon for Banda, Central Moluccas, on Oct 29, while the hiding places of
Arsyad and Jodi are still unknown. He also said the three had recruited a number of
people from the Central Moluccas and from West Ceram to become their assistants
for terror acts in the Moluccas.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |