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 16, 2003
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report No. 348
1. VICTIM OF VIOLENCE – Upon learning of the bomb explosion in Batumerah (see
preceding Report), Solivan Marthin (27), an intelligence employee of the public
prosecutor's office, hurried to the site in order to gather information on the case.
However, having arrived there, he was hit by a stone at the back of his head, causing
a cerebral concussion. Bystanders rushed him to the Al Muqadam hospital at
Galunggung. He died in the Protestant GPM hospital the following morning.
2. BOMB THREAT – This morning a government secondary school at Galunggung
(SMU Negeri III) twice received by phone a warning that a bomb had been placed at
the school compound, which would detonate at 9.20 a.m. It turned out to be a false –
though annoying – message.
3. PROVINCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE MOLUCCAS – On occasion of the visit of
four Cabinet Ministers to Ambon last January 14, Acting Governor Sarundayang –
among other things – informed them of the geographic situation of the Moluccas
(mind, not including the North Moluccas). For those who might be interested in
numbers and figures, we recount these data as we read them in "Siswalima" daily
newspaper. First some explanation on the terms used in this account:
"Kabupaten" = subprovince (headed by a "Bupati"). Each Kabupaten consists of a
number of "Kecamatans" = clusters of Villages and Kelurahans (led by a "Camat").
Villages are led by a "Kepala Desa" = Village Chief. Kelurahan = part of a town (led
by a "Lurah").
The Moluccas consists of four Kabupatens and one city:
(1) Kabupaten Maluku Tengah (Central Moluccas, excluding the city of Ambon). This
Kabupaten is divided in 15 Kecamatans, consisting of a total of 296 Villages and 6
Kelurahans.
(2) City of Ambon: divided in 3 Kecamatans, consisting of 30 Villages and 20
Kelurahans.
(3) Kabupaten Island of Buru: divided in 3 Kecamatans, consisting of 62 Villages.
(4) Kabupaten Maluku Tenggara (South-East Moluccas), divided in 3 Kecamatans,
consisting of 229 Villages and 6 Kelurahans.
(5) Kabupaten Maluku Tenggara Barat (Western S.E. Moluccas), divided in 5
Kecamatans, consisting of 187 Villages and 1 Kelurahan.
Total population: 1.200.000, thus averaging 22 persons per km² land area. The land
area is about 10% of the whole Moluccas area.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
