Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 76
10 - 17 May 2002
MALUKU
General Situation
Ambon has remained tense in the last week with INGOs carrying out limited
humanitarian operations.
A mortar shell landed 100 metres from the home of the TNI Commander in Ambon on
Saturday (11 May) but caused no damage.
The house of the head of the Muslim delegation at the Malino II peace talks, Thamrin
Ely, was attacked and burnt by masked armed men on Sunday (12 May). He was not
at home and his wife and child managed to escape. His house in Kebun Cengkeh,
Ambon was in the Muslim sector. The TNI Commander in Ambon later reported that
all 35 members of the Muslim delegation had received threats and were being provided
police protection.
A military sweep in the Diponegoro area in Ambon on Sunday (12 May) resulted in
one soldier being injured by a homemade bomb thrown from a Laskar Jihad post. In
the ensuing shootout, one person was shot dead and eight others including five
Javanese were arrested. Twenty homemade bombs were also recovered in the sweep.
The Jakarta Post reported on Monday (13 May) that the Central Government has
issued a directive ordering the dissolution of the FKM (Maluku Sovereignty Front), the
expulsion of the Laskar Jihad and Laskar Kristus (Christian militia) from Maluku, the
disarmament of armed militias, the investigations of all offences that have occurred in
the last three years. The TNI Commander in Jakarta has indicated the military's
support for the 5-point plan. However, critics in Ambon were sceptical of the
Government's commitment to enforce the directive.
On Monday (13 May), an attempt to arrest the leader of a local gang named 'Coker' in
Ambon was botched by misunderstanding and lack of coordination between Brimob
and Kopassus troops, which also caused the injury of three Brimob officers and two
members of the Kopassus.
A sweeping operation was conducted on Tuesday (14 May) in the house of the FKM
(Maluku Sovereignty Forum) leader, Alex Manuputty (currently under arrest), and
other houses suspected to belong to individuals identified by the intelligence to have
had involvement in the conflict in Maluku. On Thursday (16 May) Manuputty was
transferred to the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta. According to the Maluku
Police Chief, Brig. Gen. Sunarko Danu Ardianto, who is currently in Jakarta,
Manuputty 's transfer to Jakarta is due to the lack of investigators in Maluku.
On Wednesday (15 May) peaceful demonstrations were conducted by students of the
Islamic University in Ambon (STAIN), who supported the military but opposed the
measures towards Laskar Jihad, and by a group of women of Baguala in front of the Al
Fatah Mosque where they protested against separatist movement in Maluku.
The market in the neutral area in front of the Amans Hotel is still empty. Both the
Laskar Jihad and the locals set up roadblocks. Roadblocks that are put up by locals
are temporary in nature, yet those that are put up by the Laskar Jihad are placed as a
response towards possible sweeping operations in areas where Laskar Jihad is known
to have a stronghold, such as Kebun Cengkeh and Air Kuning. On Wednesday
evening (15 May) most of the roadblocks had been removed and vehicles have less
trouble passing through these areas. Security apparatus also placed temporary
roadblocks to 'sterilise' areas where an incident had just occurred; those who passed
through must go through a thorough check for identity cards and weapons.
On Monday (13 May), a monitoring team from Jakarta visited the local Government to
discuss the developments in the implementation of the follow up programmes after the
signing of the Maluku Agreement in Malino. The team will report to the three
Coordinating Ministers of Political and Security Affairs, Social Welfare, and Economy.
On 15 May, the Civil Emergency Board in Maluku issued a regulation restricting all
activities of the FKM (Maluku Sovereignty Front) and RMS (South Maluku Republic),
and declared the FKM an illegal organization.
Bachtiar Chamzah, Minister of Social Welfare, paid a visit on Tuesday (14 May) to the
local government to give financial aid for victims of the violence in Maluku and to look
at the provincial government building that was burned on last month.
Food Security and Agriculture
AcF sent a team on Monday (13 May) to conduct mapping projects and income
generating project assessments throughout West Seram, Haruku Island, and Saparua
Island. The team is scheduled to return in two weeks.
Health
MSF-B conducted 474 consultations this week through their Mobile Clinic Programme
in IDP camps throughout Ambon Island. They donated drugs and medical equipment
to Al Fatah and Bakti Rahayu hospitals last week. They also sent a team to Kaibobo
Village in West Seram last week where they conducted 200 consultations, donated
drugs, conducted trainings for 2 new medical workers, and provided health education
to the village residents.
Water and Sanitation
CARDI, with a local partner, constructed wells and latrines for IDPs and the local
population on Monday (13 May) in Manipa Village in West Seram, which are
benefiting 150 households. They conducted projects pre-monitoring from 14 to 16 May
for their water and sanitation programmes in Layeni, Lesluna, and Jerilli Villages in
Seram Island, and Kabau Village in Haruku Island.
MSF-B completed last week in Ambon Island the rehabilitation of the support for water
tanks in Suzuki, Cement Warehouse, and Harbour IDP camps; completed the
construction of soak-aways in Soa Bali IDP Camp; began the rehabilitation of water
tanks in Mandala Remaja IDP Camp; and began the construction of soak-aways in
Wisma Atlit IDP Camp. MSF-B also constructed three wells in Taman Jaya Village,
West Seram, last week.
Shelter and Non-food Items
CARDI, with a local partner, began the rehabilitation of IDP houses on Monday (13
May) in Wayasel in West Seram, which was expected to benefit 628 people. It also
completed a monitoring visit on Wednesday (15 May) for their shelter projects in
Passo and Latta IDP camps in Ambon Island, where it rehabilitated damaged roofs of
24 barracks and constructed partitions within 4 IDP barracks.
Education
CARDI conducted a monitoring visit on Wednesday (15 May) for their education
projects in schools throughout Ambon Island where they distributed basic school
supplies.
Economic Recovery and Infrastructure
CARDI, with local partners, began projects in agriculture and fishery on Monday (13
May) in Sariawang, Waralohi, and Hatusua areas, in Kairatu Sub-district, West
Seram, where they were expected to benefit 102 households. It also conducted
pre-monitoring of projects from 14 to 16 May for their economic empowerment
programmes in Pelau and Rohmoni villages in Haruku Island, and Sirisori Sarani
Village in Saparua Island. A CARDI team returned on Wednesday (15 May) after
conducting two weeks of monitoring its economic empowerment projects in Ambon
Island where it distributed sewing machines and conducted skill training for displaced
women in Passo, Halong, and Lateri.
NORTH MALUKU
General Situation
A group of members of the House of Representatives (DPR) visited Central Halmahera
District to assess the readiness of the community and infrastructure necessary for the
creation of a new additional district.
Harry Sinyo Sarundajang, acting governor of North Maluku said, as quoted by the RRI
state-run radio station on Friday (10 May), that 5,000 IDPs, including teachers and
officials, would be returned by the end of year 2002.
Assessments
During the week, while on a health needs assessment in Morotai Sub-district, ICRC
also distributed essential supplies for 1,170 families, including newly arrived
returnees, in the area. Items distributed included family kits (basins, bath and
washing soaps, tooth paste and brushes, and sanitary towels), agriculture kits (seeds
and tools) and building kits (hammers, saws, and spades). The majority of the new
returnees live in cramped temporary shelters. There is an urgent need for water and
sanitation, food, and assistance for permanent resettlement.
UNDP's North Maluku and Maluku Recovery Programme made an assessment 13-17
May on the building and reconstruction of houses in Gorua, Luari, and Popilo villages
of Tobelo Sub-district and in Mamuya Village of Galela Sub-district.
Health
IMC attended to 854 patients this week at puskesmas in Tobelo, Galela, Kao, and
Malifut sub-districts and in Posi-posi Rao and Daruba of South Morotai sub-district.
Common disease and condition seen are, dyspepsia, myalgia, rheumatoid arthritis,
hypertension, malaria, upper respiratory tract infection (including bronchitis), gastritis,
and skin diseases (including scabies). A case of hepatitis was seen in Daruba.
IMC donated several pieces of furniture (chairs, an examination coach and a bed, and
cupboards) and fittings (shelves) to Patang and Doro pustu in Kao Sub-district.
WVI health promotion unit showed a movie on malaria to 414 participants (258
mothers and 156 children) at 11 IDP camps in Ternate City during 3-8 May.
ICRC distributed one WHO medical kit each to Berebere and Daruba Puskesmas
during the week.
North Maluku health official Suradi said, as quoted by RRI state-run radio in Ternate
on Saturday (11 May), that during April and May, cases of suspected dengue fever
increased, resulting in one death out of 17 cases of hospitalisation in Ternate City.
Education
WVI's "Education as a Bridge for Peace" programme facilitated a participatory
learning activity for the students of seven junior high schools and five elementary
schools in Malifut, Kao, Tobelo, and Galela sub-districts. Activities included
contribution of posters or writings by student group or individuals.
Economic Recovery and Infrastructure
WVI facilitated group discussions 2-11 May of the fishermen of Gorua Village in
Tobelo and Kusu in Kao regarding the usage of the fishing kit recently provided for
them by the organization, and the market opportunity.
Other
UNDP's North Maluku and Maluku Recovery Programme in Tobelo and Galela
sub-districts participated this week in the selection of members of the Galela and
Tobelo Community Programme Board from the two sub-districts, whose function is to
advise the programme management on the community recovery issues, such as the
identification and prioritisation of community needs in the two 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
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