North Maluku now a province

AMBON, Maluku: Despite losing East Timor, the country still consists of 27 provinces after North Maluku was officially declared a new province on Tuesday.

"Administratively the new province was set up on Oct. 12 when Decree No. 46/1999 was signed in Jakarta," Ternate deputy mayor Abdulrahman Kroy said.

Local residents prayed in mosques and churches to welcome the founding of the province in a joyful atmosphere.

"Unlike Ambon, Ternate is peaceful. Muslims and Christians are united as members of a big family," a Ternate resident, who asked for anonymity, said. Ternate is the capital of the new province.

Maluku, particularly its provincial capital Ambon, has been rocked by sectarian clashes in which more than 500 people have been killed since January.

The governor of the province, Surasmin, and his deputies were installed in Jakarta soon after the decree on North Maluku's establishment was signed.

The City Hall is located on Jl. Pahlawan Revolusi.

North Maluku comprises Ternate mayoralty, Central Halmahera and North Maluku regencies, while Maluku now has Central, West and East Maluku Tenggara, and Buru regencies and Ambon mayoralty.

North Maluku is rich in clove, coconut, cocoa and teak. (48/sur)