UNDP helps resettlement projects in torn Maluku<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Settlement and Regional
\nInfrastructure in cooperation with the government of Netherlands
\nlaunched on Monday a US$2 million peace-building project on Kai
\nislands in riot-torn Maluku.<\/p>\n
The US$2 million grant from the Netherlands is being channeled
\nthrough the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the
\nresettlement program will be conducted by the Indonesian
\ngovernment, Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure
\nErna Witoelar told a media briefing here.<\/p>\n
The two-year program will focus on the handling of around 30
\npercent or 22,500 of some 75,000 people in Kai islands in
\nSoutheast Maluku, who fled the almost two years of bloody riots.<\/p>\n
Around 1,000 houses will be built in the islands, located west
\nof Maluku's capital Ambon, plus supporting facilities such as
\nchurches, mosques and health centers.<\/p>\n
\"We picked Southeast Maluku as conflicts in the region have
\ndied down. The people there have entered the level of physical as
\nwell as social and economic recovery,\" Erna explained.<\/p>\n
Another area conducive for the rehabilitation program is Tual,
\nalso in Southeast Maluku, where residents from both warring camps
\nof Muslims and Christians live in the same villages, she said.<\/p>\n
\"Similar projects will also be conducted in Seram and Buru
\nislands. Once our contractor build houses without involving the
\nlocals, and it were burned down in the riots.<\/p>\n
\"Learning from previous experience, locals have to participate
\nin the construction of buildings and other supporting facilities
\nto forge their sense of belonging,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
Also signing the project agreement were Netherlands Ambassador
\nto Indonesia S. Baron van Heemstra and UNDP resident
\nrepresentative Ravi Rajan.<\/p>\n
Heemstra said the project is part of a move to permanently
\nsolve the problems in Maluku. \"If this project works, we hope to
\nsee a better future for Indonesia,\" the ambassador said.<\/p>\n
The envoy further stressed that the Netherlands is fully
\ninvolved in humanitarian assistance and had no intention to
\nmeddle in the Maluku issue.<\/p>\n
More than 4,000 people have been killed in months of violence
\nin Maluku and North Maluku which was sparked by a dispute in the
\nborder of Batu Merah - Mardika in Ambon on Jan. 19 last year.<\/p>\n
Erna further revealed that previously a total of 1,300 houses
\nhave been built in Southeast Maluku while there are a total of
\n200 barracks for refugees in North Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"We give the refugees options, whether to build houses or
\nbarracks. It is up to them to decide,\" Erna said.<\/p>\n
The minister also revealed that there are around 400,000
\nMaluku refugees living in several neighboring provinces of East
\nNusa Tenggara, Irian Jaya and North Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
\"The most restive area in Maluku, however, is Ambon islands.<\/p>\n
\"We have to admit that the problem in Ambon is very complex
\nsince the influence of political tension from Jakarta is still
\nrunning high.<\/p>\n
\"The problems are such as the attempts of the police and the
\nNavy to handle security instead (of the Army) in Ambon and the
\nslow economic recovery since there are no human resources and
\noutsiders such as Laskar Jihad.. these are only few of the
\nthings that complicate the rehabilitation process,\" Erna
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Tension, however, resurfaced in Ambon following a series of
\nincidents since Thursday, killing at least two people and
\ninjuring five others, mostly from gunshot wounds.<\/p>\n
Security forces fired in the air to disperse a crowd of angry
\nprotesters who demanded the local authorities help locate 16
\npeople on a speedboat who went missing after the vessel left
\nTulehu port, Salahutu district on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The people pelted the gubernatorial office during the protest.<\/p>\n
Sounds of gunfire were still heard in restive Pohon Pule and
\nBatu Gantung areas late on Monday. (edt\/49)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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