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.