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, November 26, 2004
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 453
1. POVERTY IN AMBON - The aftermath of the conflict in the Moluccas generates
certain consequences, among others an increase of indigent or poor people. The head
of the "Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Daerah Kota Ambon" (Planning Office for
Ambon Construction), Rachman Talaohu declared to Jakarta based "Kompas" daily
that as a result of the improving security, many Ambon residents that had fled the
violence, meanwhile have come back to Ambon, however, have no decent place to
stay yet. So they stay in whatever refugees facility is available. But many lack
appropriate work, as the erstwhile fighting caused a number of enterprises to be
cancelled or terminated. Thus - said Rahman - the number of people that live below
the poverty level has increased to 24 percent. This means that of the approximately
250.000 inhabitants of the city of Ambon, some 60.000 must be considered as "poor".
In order to reduce the number of poor people, the Town Administration is receiving
financial aid from the central government in Jakarta and from several UN Associations.
2. SIX DIE IN SEA ACCIDENT - Last Sunday six people died when a fully loaded
local passenger boat, the "Taruma Jaya", that was bound for Tual, capsized between
Ubur island and Dula island, South-East Moluccas. It apparently sank as it exceeded
by far its passenger and baggage capacity.
3. DEMONSTRATION IN TERNATE - Some dozens of students held a demonstration
in Ternate, North Moluccas. They accused Governor Thaib Armaiyn of corruption,
deviating civil emergency funds four years ago, when he was the North Moluccas
Province Secretary, for personal profit. The situation became tense when others came
up and tried to stop the demonstration.
4. SURRENDER OF WEAPONRY - Residents of Ameth, a village on the little island of
Nusa Laut, east of Ambon island, voluntarily handed over a number of weapons and
ammunition to local military commander Aang Suharlan. The surrendered weaponry
included 3 standard rifles, 18 homemade rifles and 60 bullets.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
