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)