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Lawamena
Victoria
Reports
by
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]
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THE
SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report No. 387
2003-19-09
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Ambon, September 19, 2003
1.
INSTALLATION “BUPATI” S.E. MOLUCCAS POSTPONED – On June
16, 2003, Herman Koedoeboen SH and Ir. Lambertus Nuhuyanan were
elected to be the Bupati (precinct chief) and Deputy Bupati of the
South-East Moluccas Sub-Province (called “Kabupaten”, led by a
“Bupati”) for the period 2003-2008 (Report 371). It had taken
two years and much ado, even a number of casualties, to elect the
new leaders of this kabupaten, which encompasses the Kei, Tayando
and Aru archipelagos. The installation should have been performed
yesterday, September 18. However, part of the residents of Tual,
capital of this kabupaten, still fervently oppose the ceremony to
be performed, as, according to them, the election process was
legally flawed. They have resorted to severe adat custom by
placing “hawear” signs at various strategic locations, thus
isolating Tual. The “hawear” sign consists of some wooden
stakes, planted in the earth, “decorated” with palm leaves.
Nobody will endeavour to trespass, fearing the wrath of unknown
forces. Besides, the Usdek bridge connecting Tual with the main
island of Kei Kecil has been barricaded with iron bars. Governor
Karel Ralahalu has decided to postpone the installation until the
Hawears will have been removed – if possible – by way of
persuading the opponents. Meanwhile all traffic – including air
traffic – is very much disrupted.
2. REBUILDING GOVERNOR’S OFFICE – Construction of the
new Governor’s Office in Ambon – the old one having been
destroyed on April 3, 2002 (Report 254) – is in full progress.
Building activities go on 24 hours a day. Finishing the seven
story building and furnishing it with all kinds of modern
appliances will take another year.
3. VISUM REQUIRED – Up from December 1, 2003, tourists
from seven of the fourteen “Schengen” countries – including
the Netherlands – will have to apply for a visum at their local
Indonesian Embassy. Free from this “blacklist” are, among
others, Germany, France, Denmark and Italy.
4. MOLUCCAS OPEN TO INVESTORS – Town Mayor Papilaya
stresses that Ambon and the Moluccas are ready to receive
investors now that the civil emergency state has been lifted.
Banks, too, are ready to provide credit. The city of Ambon is
suitable for the fields of trade, transportation and tourism. The
Moluccas as a whole welcomes investors first and foremost in the
fields of fishery, mining, agriculture and manufacturing.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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