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 15, 2006
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 501
1. CORRUPTION - The provinces of the Moluccas and North-Moluccas are no
exception to the national disease of corruption which is slowly strangling Indonesia. In
our reports we seldom mention cases of corruption, for the number of cases is too
large and the dire routine practices are too frequent to take stock of them. Those
cases that are exposed by the mass media and of which the perpetrators are brought
to court are just the tip of the iceberg. However, to mention a few recent samples,
reported by Liputan6.com:
More that one thousand IDP-s from the villages of Lamaha and Haturapa (West-Ceram
island), having recently returned to their villages, have no house there any more. The
West-Ceram government had promised them to help them rebuilding their destroyed
houses, but now refuses to take responsibility, saying it is the provincial government's
business to take care of these people. So most of them just huddle together on an
open space, the former marketplace. They suffer from lack of food and health care.
During these years billions of rupiahs have poured in for refugees help. However, these
thousand people - and several thousands of others - never saw a rupiah, whereas
many others have to content themselves with just a part of the sum they are entitled
to receive.
Another report from the same source mentions a strike by some dozen of medical
personnel of the government's hospital "Chasan Bosoiri", Ternate, North Moluccas.
Patients currently are not being attended to, except those in the ICU. The reason for
their work stoppage is that they have not been paid out for four months. The direction
claims that there are not enough funds to pay their wages...
2. FORMER LASKAR JIHADS VISIT AMBON - The deputy Laskar Jihad War
Commander of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Ja'maah, named Ustadz Luqman Ba'Abduh,
and several companions are currently visiting Ambon. A meeting was held today in
the great Al-Fatah Mosque, Ambon, in which Ustadz Luqman and Muhammad Afifudin
explained on national and international terrorism, including suicidal terrorism.
Extensive security measures had been taken by the police to forestall any
irregularities to happen during the meeting. To the about five hundred citizens that
were present, Ustadz Luqman made clear - frequently citing the Al-Quran - that "jihad"
is not identical with "terrorism". Afterwards some among those present complained
that there was hardly any opportunity to ask questions. Due to lack of time only two
representatives were allowed to come forward with a question.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
