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 7, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 459
1. TSUNAMI DISASTER SUMATRA - As everywhere in the world, people in the
Moluccas were shocked by the tsunami disaster in Aceh and North Sumatra. The
Moluccas government immediately sent a hundred million rupiahs (approx. Eur
8.150,-) to the area. Financial aid is also being supplied by organisations, political
parties etc. Several aid centres have been established in Ambon, among others the
Islamic Students' Crisis Centre (Crisis Centre Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam). The
centres get a lot of goods - mainly clothes - but have trouble to find means of
transportation to the far-off region of Aceh. Fifteen social workers will leave today or
tomorrow for Aceh to comfort the children among the victims of the earthquake and
tsunami catastrophe. Among them are Suster Brigitta Renyaan and Mrs. Hendriks,
who during the Moluccas conflict played an important role in the "Gerakan Perempuan
Peduli" (Concerned Women's Movement) and in trauma healing programs in Ambon.
2. HOMOGENITY VS. HETEROGENITY - Most places in the Moluccas and North
Moluccas used to be heterogeneous: a mixed population of muslims and christians.
The conflict that erupted between muslims and christians in 1999 caused muslims to
flee from places with a christian majority and vice versa. This situation has more or
less stabilized. There are clear indications that in a number of places people want to
keep it like that. However, the governor of the Moluccas, Karel Albert Ralahalu, insists
that the heterogeneous or mixed stituation should be restored; otherwise the situation
may never return to comprehensive safety and security. In order to make clear his
point, funds for the reconstruction of churches will also be allotted in areas that
virtually have become muslim areas, and funds for the rebuilding of mosques will also
be allocated in areas that have become exclusively christian. Thus on December 27,
the reconstructed large mosque of Passo was inaugerated, though the place up to
now has seen hardly any muslims returning.
3. WEBSITE S.E.MOLUCCAS - Here is a marvellous website on the South-East
Moluccas: www.yamdena.tk
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
