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Ambon
remains restricted to foreigners
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The
Jakarta Post
July
14, 2003
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Ambon remains restricted to
foreigners
National News - July 14, 2003
AMBON: Despite the improving
security condition in Ambon, the local administration has yet to
lift the restriction for foreigners to enter the formerly
conflict-torn province as it is still technically under a state of
civil emergency.
"The decree banning foreigners
from entering the province remains as long as the province is
still under a state of emergency," Ambon immigration office
chief Wiryono told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
He said his office had, in the past
two months, denied entry to 12 foreigners who had no clear purpose
in visiting the province, where conflict between Muslims and
Christians has killed over 5,000 people since it broke out in
January 1999.
He, however, said foreign
humanitarian workers were still allowed to enter the province.
Currently, 148 foreign humanitarian workers are in the province.
Wiryono said those foreigners had
the clearance from Ambon state of emergency administrator Sinyo
Harri Sarundajang to support the reconstruction of the province.
The state of civil emergency was
imposed in the province in 2000 following prolonged sectarian
clashes. The central government is currently evaluating the
possibility of lifting the emergency status. --JP
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