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, January 29, 2006
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 503
1. UNDP AWARD FOR NORTH MOLUCCAS GOVERNOR – Antara News Agency,
in a bulletin dated January 19, 2006, reports on a special award which was bestowed
on North Moluccas Governor Thaib Armaiyn by the United Nations Development
Program (UNDP) representing a number of UN organizations like WHO, Unicef, FAO,
UNFPA and a number of NGO-s. The award was given because of the governor's
success in reconciling local residents that were involved in the fighting between
Muslims and Christians since 1999. Armaiyn has been dubbed as the Father of
Reconciliation and Pioneer of Peace in the Province. The conferral of the award
coincided with the sixth anniversary of the Province of the North Moluccas.
2. IDP-S CONVEY GRIEVANCES – About 200 refugees, both muslims and
christians, gathered in front of the Provincial Legislative Council building in Ambon last
week, demanding the government to build them appropriate houses for them to stay.
Pieter Pattiwailapia, head of the Coalition of Moluccas Displaced People, said that
many of his group were still camped at temporary barracks in terrible conditions, six
years after losing their belongings, homes and familiy members due to the conflict,
that started in January 1999 and ended around 2002. Pieter believed the neglect was
caused by government ignorance and officials' unwillingness to deal with the problem
properly.
3. AUSTRALIA WARNS FOR TERROR THREAT – Many Australians became
victims of earlier terrorism incidents in Indonesia, notably in both Bali attacks (2002
and 2005) and a bomb attack outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta (2004). So
no wonder the Australian government time and again updates its alert for carefulness
in visiting Indonesia and especially certain areas in Indonesia. The Australian Foreign
Affairs Department website discourages Australians to travel to Aceh, Moluccas and
Central Celebes. In general, “Australians should reconsider travel to Indonesia".
4. UNDERSEA QUAKE ROCKS THE MOLUCCAS – It was hardly possible not to be
awakened by the 7.7 Richter scale earthquake that rocked the Moluccas and even
was felt in places as distant as Sorong (Papua), Kupang (East Nusa Tenggara) and
Makassar (South Celebes). It struck at 1:58 a.m. local time, January 28, in the Banda
Sea, about 195 kilometers (120 miles) South of Ambon, at a depth of 342 kiloimeters
(212 miles). The tremor lasted for about two minuters. Hundreds of people fled their
homes in panic. However, no casualties, injuries or any major damage has been
reported up to now. Damage seems to be limited to cracks in some buildings.
Apparently the quake was too far under the surface of the earth to generate a
tsunami, though – of course – in all low-lying areas people fled for safety to higher
grounds.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
