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, June 18, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 481
1. TERRORIST ARRESTED - Police in South Celebes has succeeded in arresting a
man named Ardi Tuasikal (Tausihal?), who is suspected as the grenade thrower in
Lateri, last March 5 (see Report 470). He was caught at the BTN Akabri Marols
complex on June 14. Maybe he will be taken to Ambon for judicial proceedings. Also
arrested were two other bomb throwers, named Yuslan (Yusran) and Mahmud.
However, the police would not tell in which cases they had been involved.
2. QUESTIONS RAISED OVER REFUGEE FUNDS - We read in The Jakarta Post
that several provincial councillors recently visited the Aru Islands, i.e. the most
South-Eastern part of the Moluccas. There they were not able to locate the 150
houses that were to have been built for refugees in 2003 with government funds of 1.5
billion rupiahs (USD 166,666.-). The councillors recorded 433 refugee families.
3. VISA-ON-ARRIVAL FOR 13 NATIONS - We read in The Jakarta Post of June 15,
that the Indonesian government has decided to allow the nationals of an additional
number of 13 countries in Europe and the Middle East to obtain a visa-on-arrival
(VOA). The decision brings the number of foreign countries to be granted this facility
to 33.
He said the government was still in the process of granting a visa-on-arrival facility to
the Netherlands and to Sweden.
The reason why specifically the Netherlands was not included yet on this list may be
that the government is worried about the possible entry of South Maluku Republic
(RMS) separatist members living in the Netherlands.
A visa-on-arrival will now be valid for either six or thirty days. A six-day visa will cost
US$10 while a 30-day visa will cost $25.
The 13 additional countries granted VOA facility are: India, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,
Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Egypt, Austria, Ireland, Qatar, Greece and
Luxembourg.
We have learned that this kind of information is often not available at local Indonesian
embassies and consulates. There are even among these that inform aspirant visitors
of the Moluccas, that for Ambon and the Moluccas a special permit is needed - which
is incorrect.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
