Mayor proposes new name for Ambon

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)