UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 01 June 2004
Indonesia: OCHA Humanitarian Update May 2004
Highlights:
Sporadic shooting, bomb blasts and discovery of explosives continue in Ambon city
and the security situation remains unstable.
The Maliku government reported that the recent conflict has caused 10,000 new
displacements and destruction of 847 houses. The Provincial Government, several
NGOs and ICRC/ Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) provided relief and medical supplies to
the affected population.
The Central Government has allocated IDR 33 billion (USD 3.8 million) to Maluku to
address the immediate needs of the displaced population (food, medicine and shelter)
and rehabilitation of infrastructure.
As of 19 May 2004, the "State of Civil Emergency" in the province of Aceh has
replaced the martial law. Under the new status, the Government integrated operations
will continue.
After months of captivity, some 170 civilian hostages were released by GAM as a
result of an ICRC/PMI brokered deal between TNI and GAM.
An UNSECOORD mission has completed a security assessment in West Timor.
Five pairs of President and Vice-President candidates are competing for the 5th July
2004 election. A month long election campaign will begin from 1st of June 2004.
Through OCHA administered ERF/HRF funds (DFID and AusAID), two NGOs will
implement IDP projects.
Major events:
Disaster Management: A two-day (24-25 May) orientation/workshop on UN Disaster
Assessment Coordination (UNDAC) / International Search and Rescue Advisory
Group (INSARAG) for the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) was
held in Bali. The event was followed by the launching of ASEAN Regional Programme
on Disaster Management (ARPDM). The purpose of these meetings was to engage
donors and partners in mobilizing financial and technical support for the ARPDM. The
committee (ACDM) formulated ARPDM as a framework to promote regional
cooperation for countries as well as a platform for promoting coordination and
synergies with other governments, UN agencies, donors and regional and global
initiatives. The ASEAN member states including Indonesia were represented by
Government officials responsible for disaster management. Also donor representatives
and UN agencies were in attendance.
Elections 2004: Preparation for the 5th July 2004 presidential election is underway.
The General Election Commission (KPU) has approved five pairs of President and
Vice President candidates. A month-long election campaign will begin on 1st June.
Allegation against NGOs: Senior government officials have reportedly accused 20
NGOs (both national and international - names undisclosed) of publishing provocative
reports that may destabilize the pre-election political environment. A specific
allegation was made against the International Crisis Group (ICG) and its Director, Ms.
Sidney Jones.
Resource Mobilisation:
As an advocacy strategy to mobilized resources, OCHA begins bilateral donor
consultation to brief/update key donors on the ongoing humanitarian situation and the
outlook for the coming months, as well as encourage funding for CAP projects.
The Australian Embassy in Jakarta announced USD 4.25 million funding to a joint
programme between UNICEF and the Indonesian government aimed at improving
maternal health in eastern parts of the country. The development programme will be
focused on nine regencies -- East and West Sumba, Alor and Kupang in East Nusa
Tenggara province, and Jayapura, Jayawijaya, Biak Numfor and Sorong in Papua
province. The maternal and infant mortality rates of the two provinces are among the
highest in Indonesia.
Project Financing through ERF/HRF: OCHA has been managing the Emergency
Response Fund (ERF) and the Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) established with
the contributions from the Governments of the United Kingdom (GBP750,000) and
Australia (AUD 1million) respectively. Both Funds have been disbursed to assist
international and local NGOs to respond to the needs of the Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) and people affected by conflicts and natural disasters in Aceh, Central
Sulawesi, Java, Maluku, West Timor and West Kalimantan. Since 2003, OCHA has
disbursed some USD 800,000 from the ERF and some USD 600,000 from the HRF, to
enable 15 NGOs to implement 24 projects. Activities carried out under these projects
include a provision of health/medical services, distribution of food and non-food items,
rehabilitation and maintenance of water/sanitation facilities, provision of
income-generation activities and organisation of workshops/seminars on the rights
and issues related to the IDPs. In the
month of May, the following projects have been approved: 1) Psychosocial
Assistance, Training and Health Services (PATHS) for Conflict-Affected Communities
(Health project) by International Medical Corps (IMC) for Central Sulawesi and 2)
Mercy Corps Response to Civil Unrest in Maluku (Multi-sectoral assistance).
Regional Updates:
Aceh: A presidential decree no. 43/2004 was issued on 18 May 2004, declaring the
amendment of Martial Law to Civil Emergency Status in the province of NAD (Aceh)
effective from 19 May 2004 for a period of six months. As stipulated in the decree, a
28 member Executive Committee comprised of 21 Ministers, Heads of Armed Forces
and others would be led by the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs.
The directives will come from the newly established executive body while the Governor
of Aceh was appointed as the Administrator to implement the civil emergency. The
Governor will also continue the Government's integrated operation, which includes
restoration of security and law enforcement. The government has no plan to reduce
the current strength of military and police forces in the province.
During the reporting month, some 170 civilian hostages, including the RCTI
cameramen, were released by GAM. The ICRC/ Indonesian Red Cross (PMI)
negotiated the release with an agreement between GAM and TNI. UN Project
Coordination Office (UNPCO) in Aceh compiled reports from various local newspapers,
which indicated that in May 2004, a total of 115 people were killed of which 27 were
civilians, 2 TNI and 86 alleged GAM members. The Indonesian Military (TNI) has
admitted that one-year of military operation in Aceh has failed to achieve the ultimate
target of eliminating GAM activists. Since the introduction of martial law in May 2003,
some 2,000 alleged GAM members were killed, 2,100 arrested, and 1,276
surrendered to the TNI. The chief of TNI also acknowledged that 511 rights violations
had been recorded since military operation was launched and 57 soldiers had been
sentenced up to 3 years in prison.
Central Sulawesi: Military personnel continue door-to door search in Poso district.
They have seized large quantities of illegal firearms, ammunitions, weapons (hand
made and automatic) and bombs in the trouble stricken district of Poso. The weapons
included 90 guns, over 3,000 rounds of live ammunition, eight homemade bombs and
420 kg of Sulphur (bomb material). On 26 May 2004, unknown gunmen shot dead an
Indonesian Prosecutor who helped try the terrorism cases in Central Sulawesi. The
murder is the latest mystery shooting in the province, which has been plagued
recently by Muslim-Christian violence.
Maluku: The situation in Ambon city remained tense five weeks after the violent
confrontations between Muslims and Christians that shook Ambon City in late April.
The violence left 40 people dead and over 300 people injured. Several bombs exploded
in public places while police defused a number of unexploded bombs. Muslim and
Christian communities have drawn invisible demarcation lines dividing Ambon city
along the religious lines. The Government has reported some 10,000 newly displaced
people while the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) put this number at 4,000 IDPs. Many of
these people have been displaced for a number of times and lost their belongings time
and again, and will continue relying on the assistance programmes for some time to
come. According to Maluku Governor's report to Jakarta, at least 847 housing units
(589 unit belonging to recent returnees) and 4 schools including a UNDP funded
reconciliation school were destroyed or badly damaged. The central government has
already allocated
IDR 33 billion (USD 3.8 million) to address the immediate needs of IDPs and
rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure. Several international NGOs and ICRC/PMI
also provided emergency food, non-food and medical assistance to the conflict
affected population.
A team of UN Field Security Unit (FSU), Jakarta is visiting Ambon since 27 May
2004, to evaluate the situation particularly for a possible return of UN staff and
resumption of activities. The visiting FSU team recommended the return of 68 UN staff
and their immediate family members relocated in Jakarta since the end of April. Staff
members are expected to return by first week of June. Office equipment, records and
belongings of OCHA, UNICEF, WHO, UNDP, and UNSECOORD accommodated in
the UN Project Coordination Office (UNPCO) have been destroyed at the onset of the
recent conflict. Therefore, full and immediate resumption of UN activities will be
difficult and staff may face additional difficulties to access the divided communities.
MSF-B remained in the city throughout the troubled period while other INGOs, namely
SC-UK, CARDI, JRS, ICMC, IMC and Mercy Corps, relocated their staff temporarily
but have now resumed their activities in the province.
President Megawati and six Members of Parliament, together with senior Government
officials visited the province during the month. However, no significant development
was reported in initiating the peace dialogue between the Muslim and Christian in
Ambon.
West Timor: A team of United Nations Security Coordination (UNSECOORD)
delegates visited West Timor during 13-17 May 2004 to evaluate the security
conditions. The mission was well received by the provincial/ district authorities,
military officials, police and local residents. The mission will submit its findings to
UNSECOORD HQs and to the Secretary General for a final decision.
According to IOM reports a total of 83 former East Timorese refugees have been
repatriated. IOM also supported resettlement of 6 families (28 persons) in West
Sumba. Due to fewer request for repatriation, IOM is considering discontinuation of
the repatriation programme from May 2004.
Papua: The overall security situation remained calm throughout the month.
Reportedly, shortage of drugs and medical supplies in Abepura, Serui and Wamena
interrupted the health services for several weeks.
Some 500 Papuans in the Coalition of Civilians for Human Rights protested at the
province's legislative council to oppose the May 1, 1963 integration of the territory into
Indonesia blaming that the integration violated Papuans' human rights.
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