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, October 25, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 490
FUNDS FOR REHABILITATION OF HOUSES OF WORSHIP – Cabinet Minister for
Religious Affairs, Muh. Maftuh Basyuni, was in Ambon and attended the opening
ceremony of the 35th GPM Synod on 23 October. During an interreligious dialogue,
which was held in the Maranatha Church, Ambon, the Minister said that funds would
be made available to rebuild or restore 144 Houses of Worship that have been
destroyed in the Moluccas during the conflict in the Moluccas from 1999 to 2003.
On this occasion Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu confirmed that during 2005, 60
Houses of Worship have been rehabilitated, namely 26 churches, 24 mosques and 10
Pura and Klenteng, which were burned or destroyed during the conflict. He also said
that at several sites the respective religious communities wanted the church or
mosque to be rebuilt at another location, since the whole community has moved away
from the original site. The government complied to such requests.
"MALUKU BACK TO NORMAL" – On 22 October, the Muslim community in Ambon
held a Nuzulul Quran (Revelation of the Koran) celebration at the Al Fatah mosque,
which was also attended by Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basuni. The Governor of
the Province of the Moluccas, Karel Albert Ralahalu, too, was present. After the
celebration the Governor declared: "The Moluccas has fully returned to normalcy and I
believe its people can no longer be provoked. However, there are still many things left
to do. The economic sector is developing and reconstruction of houses of worship,
administration offices and other facilities are still underway," he said.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Minister Maftuh Basyuni asked the people of the Moluccas
to continue developing the social relations concept of "Pela Gandong" that had
existed in the province for a long time. "It depends on our will whether or not Pela
Gandong is still able to build harmony," he said. Thus was reported by Antara
Newsagency.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
