EU emergency aid for Maluku

EU emergency aid for Maluku

JAKARTA: The European Parliament, which holds its plenary
session in Strasbourg, France, next week, will most likely pass a
resolution to immediately send emergency aid to the victims of
violent clashes on Kai islands in Maluku province, Janssen L. van
Raay, a member of the Parliament, said here on Wednesday.

Raay, who has just returned from a few days visit to Maluku,
told The Jakarta Post the resolution would be sponsored by the
Indonesian Friendship Association, a lobby forum within the
Parliament.

"I've come here as secretary-general of the association to
collect information to support our resolution next week," Raay
said.

He added that the resolution also would stipulate the European
Union's commitment to provide assistance for the reconstruction
of Ambon city, Maluku's provincial capital, which was heavily
damaged by a spate of violent clashes over the past few months.

Raay said a Dutch company he partly owns is also preparing to
assign a 30,440 deadweight ton cruise ship to take tourists to
the various islands, including Maluku, in this vast archipelagic
country.

"The Prins van Oranje cruise ship will soon be sent from
Singapore to Jakarta or Surabaya for modifications to ply
Indonesian waters," he added.

He said the cruise ship would be based in Bali and would start
operations sometime in October.

"I therefore strongly appeal to the people in Maluku and other
islands to maintain peace and order so as to attract tourists,"
Raay said. (vin)