Mayor proposes new name for Ambon

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Ambon Mayor Chris Tanasale proposed on Wednesday Ambon be renamed National Disaster City because of the prolonged sectarian violence that has claimed thousands of lives and destroyed Maluku's provincial capital.

In a meeting with members of House of Representatives Commission I for security and foreign affairs at Manggadua City Hall on Wednesday, Tanasale said Ambon had been victimized by the continuing clashes.

"It is impossible for the local administration to rebuild the battle-torn city. Therefore, we (the mayoralty officials and councilors) plan to go to Jakarta next January to ask the central government and the House to officially rename Ambon National Disaster City," said Tanasale.

He said that before the interreligious conflict erupted about two years, the city survived on the service sector. "The city's revenue totally depended on the services sector. Now the service sector has been demolished and the city regional revenue has dropped to Rp 100 million from Rp 6.5 billion."

He said the conflict was orchestrated by "other parties", while the victims were all Ambonese. "The people of Ambon do not have the ability to end the conflict, and need the help of the central government."

Tanasale also asked why the central government focused only on the conflicts in Aceh and Irian Jaya. "The conflicts in Aceh and Irian Jaya are caused by demands for independence, demands which should be met with repressive action from the government, not serious attention and aid. I can't understand the (central) government's policy."

Permadi, a commission member from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, said the mayor's request for aid should be heeded.

The House discussed the issue at a working committee on the Maluku conflict sometime ago, Permadi said. "We support the proposal. The people of Ambon cannot rebuild everything themselves." (49/sur)