CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA
Jalan Pattimura 32 - Ambon 97124  Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337
e-mail [email protected]

Ambon, September 2, 2003

1. ATTEMPTING RECOVERY OF ECONOMY – On August 29-30, 2003, central government and local government officials convened in Ambon with banking and business representatives from the Moluccas and the North Moluccas in order to revitalize the economy of the Moluccas. The Moluccas has become one of the poorest provinces of Indonesia now. Four Cabinet Ministers and also the governor of the Bank Indonesia were present at this meeting. Those present agreed on seventeen points of commitment. Immediate lifting of the civil emergency state was regarded as the most important item to pave the way for invigorating business and tourism. Acting Governor Sarundayang said this had to be decided by the central government in Jakarta. He expected that the new governor, Karel Ralahalu, who is to be inaugurated next September 9, undoubtedly will take the necessary steps to this end. Ralahalu himself declared to the mass media that, indeed, he will consider this as priority, but any lifting of the civil
emergeny state before the Idul-Fitri and Christmass celebrations will hardly be feasible, he said.

2. BANDA OPEN TO FOREIGNERS – The beautiful, exotic Banda archipelago has been declared open to foreigners. To visit these islands, no special permit is needed any more. The head of the provincial tourists’ office, Ir. P.A. Titaley, declared to the press on August 27, that he very much hoped that within due time the Moluccas will be visited by tourists again. In 1998, the last year before the unrest started, the number of tourists from foreign countries was 14.258. It reached its lowest point in the year 2000, when only 203 foreigners came to the Moluccas.

3. RECTOR PATTIMURA UNIVERSITY INSTALLED – After competing with Prof. J.E. Louhenapessy for about five months, at last Prof. H.B. Tetelepta was elected to be the new rector of the Universitas Pattimura, Ambon, replacing Prof. Dr. Mus Huliselan. His installation took place in Jakarta on September 1, 2003, and was performed by the Minister of Education, A. Malik Fajar. About 200 people from Ambon had gathered to witness the ceremony.

4. MILITARY KILLED BY BULLET – Soldier Jeremy Adoe was unintentionally killed by a bullet in Ambon on September 1, when a comrade was trying out his gun after cleaning it. Another soldier was killed by two bullets in Taniwel, North-West Seram, supposedly a case of suicide.

C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina

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