Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 74
26 April - 3 May 2002
MALUKU
General Situation
Twelve people were killed and several others seriously injured when unidentified
gunmen launched an attack on Soya village, in the Sirimau Sub-district of Ambon
City, on Sunday (28 Apr.) morning. This prompted Jakarta to pledge to deploy
reinforcement troops and take firmer action to restore peace in Maluku. At least 24
houses and a church dating back to 1876 were also set ablaze by the attackers.
Christian community leaders believed that the attack was linked to the Laskar Jihad.
Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina, acting as the head of the state of civil
emergency, issued an arrest order for Jaffar Umar Thalib, Laskar Jihad's commander.
Latuconsina made his announcement on local government-run television station,
TVRI, on Wednesday evening (1 May). Governor Latuconsina was quoted as saying
by the Antara news agency on the same day that it was too difficult to arrest the
leader of the Islamic militia accused of involvement in the attack. "We need to think
carefully of the consequences, especially for the local people," he said. Jaffar had
implored local Muslims two days before the attack to wage war on Christians.
Survivors of the attack on the Soya Village said masked attackers yelled
"Allahu'Akbar" (God is Great) and spoke Javanese as they rampaged through the
villages on Sunday, armed with M-16 rifles, swords and homemade bombs.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri instructed Maluku authorities to make a thorough
investigation into the attack on the Soya Village and to take tough action against
those involved in the violence that has derailed the two-month-old Malino II peace
agreement, according to The Jakarta Post. The Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said after a meeting with the President
on Tuesday (30 Apr.) that Megawati also asked authorities under the civil emergency
to replace officials whose responsibility was to maintain peace and order in the
province.
The Jakarta Post reported Wednesday (1 May) that National Police chief Da'i Bachtiar
said the government might impose martial law, which would grant authorities
extraordinary powers to restore security, if the security situation in Maluku
deteriorated. This seemed to get supports from military officials and politicians. Both
the military commander Admiral Widodo A.S. and House Speaker Akbar Tandjung
said they favoured such a move. Minister Susilo quoted President Megawati as saying
that a military emergency could be imposed in Maluku if conditions deteriorated.
Security conditions in Ambon declined and street activities reduced throughout the
town during the week. Markets in neutral areas have been closed due to rumours that
these areas are targets of violence. Fewer customers went to the markets that
remained opened inside Muslim and Christian areas. Roadblocks are placed in areas
dividing the two communities; some are apparently intended to be built into permanent
barricades. There are no crossings between community borders.
The Civil Emergency Board extended indefinitely the restrictions on foreigners in
Maluku that was initially to end on 30 April. It also extended indefinitely the 10 p.m. to
6 a.m. curfew that was originally intended to apply only from 23 to 27 April.
Shots were fired at two motorboats off Teluk Dalam Bay on Tuesday (30 Apr.). No
casualties were reported in the incident.
Humanitarian Assistance
The volatile security conditions have caused INGOs to halt their aid programmes in
Ambon and to relocate temporarily. However, MSF-B is currently supporting local
hospitals with equipment, drugs and medical aid workers to prepare for casualties
caused by possible further violence.
NORTH MALUKU
General Situation
The Mayor of Ternate City, Samsir Andili, presided over the official launch of the first
ever cellular telephone network operation in Ternate on Saturday (27 Apr.). The phone
service provided by the state-owned Telkomsel will initially have a limited
reception/transmission range of less than 20 kilometres. When construction of a
permanent tower is completed, a nation wide access will be possible.
Assessments
OCHA Ternate, while on mission to Manado, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday (1 May),
met with Governor Adolf Jouke Sondakh regarding the government support to IDPs in
North Sulawesi. North Sulawesi administration expects to support the return of up to
30,000 people to North Maluku by the end of 2002.
Population movements
On Tuesday (30 Apr.), 69 displaced Christian families (202 IDPs) returned from Tobelo
to their homes in Sebatai Baru Village in South Morotai Sub-district, North Maluku
District.
On 1 and 2 May, 54 displaced Muslim families (330 IDPs) moved from Ternate to their
own villages in Kahatola, Soasiu, and Tolofuo in Loloda Sub-district, North Maluku
District.
Health
North Maluku health office would provide free health assistance for poor families
through a new social safety net programme in the 2002 fiscal year.
WHO is preparing a malaria control programme in Buli Sub-district, Central
Halmahera, in cooperation with the district health office of North Maluku and Central
Halmahera. A similar programme proposal has been prepared for Jailolo. The
programme would involve communities as part of health as bridge for peace
programme.
This week IMC attended to 360 patients at puskesmas in Tobelo, Daruba, and
Berebere sub-districts. Common disease and condition seen included malaria, upper
respiratory tract infection (including bronchitis), hypertension, gastritis, and skin
diseases (including scabies).
WVI conducted a health promotion campaign among IDPs in Ternate City this week.
It showed a movie on diarrhoea to 261 mothers and 217 children in 14 camps.
CWS Manado is carrying out a supplement-feeding programme for children under five
and for pregnant and breast-feeding women in Kitawaya Camp and in
Manembo-nembo, Bitung. It expects to reach 1,300 beneficiaries over the next four
weeks.
Shelter and Non-food Items
During the week, WVI distributed 46 sets of roofing kits (zinc sheets, planks of wood,
nails) to returnees in Dum-Dum coastal village in South Jailolo Sub-district.
Other
CARDI organized a workshop (29-30 Apr.) to improve community awareness of the
organization's activities. More than 50 people from Ibu, Sahu, and Jailolo sub-districts,
as well as officials from North Maluku District, attended the workshop.
USAID-OTI sponsored a discussion forum for a women network for peace building in
North Maluku Province on 3 - 4 April. Among the participants are 24 women
representatives involved in community reconciliation and rehabilitation activities.
Coconut farmers in Ibu Sub-district of North Maluku District complained that over the
last two years pests have damaged their coconut trees. The insecticide spray
treatment was not successful. M.S. Marassabessy, the Head of Horticultural Office of
North Maluku District, said that the pests have been attacking 5000 hectares of
coconut trees not only in Ibu but also in Bacan and Sanana sub-districts.
This report and all previous ones can be found on OCHA's website at
www.reliefweb.int
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
UN Building 4th Floor
Jl. MH. Thamrin 14
P.O. Box 2238, Indonesia
FAX: (62-21) 319-0003
PHONE: ( 62-21) 314-1308, Ext. 215, 151, 125
|
