Displaced people in Ambon city to be recounted

Displaced people in Ambon city to be recounted

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

Authorities will recount the number of displaced people in
conflict-torn Ambon to help smooth the distribution of delayed
financial assistance for the displaced.

Contradictory refugee counts have caused delays in the
distribution of aid in the form of building materials to help
displaced people, such as in the Poka and Rumahtiga subdistricts
of Ambon Beguala Bay district, rebuild their homes.

Ambon Beguala Bay district chief Jan Haumase said a team of
officials from district and subdistrict offices had been
established to recount the refugees in the two subdistricts based
on technical guidelines provided by the Ambon municipal
administration.

According to data from the provincial administration, there
are 1,000 displaced families in the Poka and Rumahtiga
subdistricts, while according to data from the district 2,200
houses were burned down during the conflict.

"The problem is, where should the uncounted families, whose
houses were also burned down, stay? They have the same rights as
other refugees," Haumase told The Jakarta Post at the governor's
office.

He said that by recounting the refugees, everyone who was
entitled to it would receive aid. "I cannot make any decisions
because of the lack of accurate data, and the people are
suffering. To gather accurate date, we will do a new survey."

Inconsistent data is not the only problem. There are also poor
quality resettlement houses built by contractors assigned by the
government.

The provincial administration has allotted Rp 10 million
(US$1,000) to build each refugee house -- Rp 8.5 million for
building materials and Rp 1.5 million to pay the construction
workers.

Despite the tight budget, contractors have still been able to
make a profit, as seen in the construction of 50 resettlement
houses for refugees from Larier in Waiheru district, Ambon
Baguala Bay.

The new houses did not meet technical guidelines set by the
government, which say that the houses must be constructed half
from bricks and half from plywood. In reality, no bricks were
used in the construction, just low quality timber.

The cement was also poorly mixed and the floor began to crack
about two weeks after the displaced persons moved in.

"I am doubtful about the work of the contractors who were only
interested in making big profits. The houses are not fit for
people to live in, maybe for animals. However, if we refuse to
live there where else will we stay?" said Hartaty Mulyaty, a
displaced woman from Larier.

Another refugee, La Udin, complained that the houses did not
have a bathroom or kitchen. Still, he added, the contractors
demanded a fee of Rp 800,000 from each family wishing to move
into the houses.

"I am just a laborer and I earn just enough to eat every day.
But what else can I do. I had to borrow that money just to get a
house," said La Udin.

An assistant to the Maluku provincial secretary, Rahman
Soumena, who also heads the Maluku Refugee Relief Agency,
promised to prosecute unscrupulous contractors who pilfered
refugee funds.

"We will continue to observe the contractors and refugee
coordinators assisting the government in repatriating refugees.
If they are found to have committed graft, they will face the
law," he said.

The chairman of Maluku Refugees Coalition, Pieter
Pattiwaellapia, blamed the government for its slow response to
the refugee problem.

"There has been no action from the government or law enforcers
against those who have used the refugees to make a profit. It is
hard to believe that all of the money distributed by the central
government has not solved the refugee problem," Pieter said.