| 1. NATURAL DISASTERS
 quake registering 5.38 on the Richter scale rocked Semarang and several other towns in Central Java on Sunday morning. No casualties or damages were reported. According to Widodo Sulistiyo of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, the quake jolted Semarang, Yogyakarta, Surakarta and some East Java towns, including Malang. The epicentre was 110 kilometres deep in the Indian Ocean, 163 kilometres southwest of the town of Pacitan, East Java, or south of Yogyakarta.
An earthquake measuring at 6.8 on the Richter scale occurred in Banda Sea, 222 km east of the nearest city (land) Raha in Southeast Sulawesi on Friday (19 Oct.) at 10.28 local time (WIB). The information given by Drs Waau Tarmin of the National Meteorology and Geophysics Agency stated the epicentre of the quake was 26.2 kilometres deep, and 4.3 south latitude and 26.2 east longitude. The tremors were reportedly felt in Kendari, Raha (MMI of III-IV) and Bau Bau in Southeast Sulawesi, as well as Kefa in West Timor (MMI of II-III) and Dili in East Timor. So far, no casualties or damages have been reported.
2. Acheh (Nanggroe Acheh Darussalam)
General Situation
More than a dozen people were killed during the week. The senior commander of AGAM, the military wing of the Free Acheh Movement (GAM), Amri Abdul Wahab, declared that the Achenese GAM negotiator Teungku Zulfany bin Abdul Rani, 32, was shot dead on Sunday (14 Oct.) by the Indonesian Military (TNI) in a raid on Krueng Seumideun village in Peukan Baro sub-district in Pidie district. Zulfany was a member of the Joint Committee on Security Modalities set up under the Humanitarian Pause.
A South Acheh Social Welfare official, T. Sunardi, was gunned down by unknown armed men in front of his home in Lhok Pawoh village, Sawang Sub-district on Saturday evening. On Thursday (18 Oct.) gunmen riding on two motorcycles shot Lhokseumawe District Secretary Muchlis Ali to death.
A bomb blast on Saturday disrupted the visit of Coordinating Minister for Peoples' Welfare Yusuf Kalla and Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agiel Munawar to Lhokseumawe, North Acheh. The bomb exploded in an abandoned theatre only minutes before the two ministers arrived at an adjacent sports stadium where a ceremony to officiate the development of an Islamic centre was to take place. No casualties were reported in the incident. The ceremony went ahead as scheduled.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Friday (12 Oct.) said she had given a four-month extension to an order for a military crackdown on rebels in Acheh but that the authorities would also "prioritise dialogue" with GAM, in an effort to end the 26-year separatist war that has left thousands dead. House Speaker Akbar Tanjung proposed on the same day the creation of a national commission on Acheh to have closer coordination and cooperation among officials of the different ministries and government agencies.
The Serambi Indonesia local daily reported that GAM spokesman for East Acheh, Ishak Daud, has invited Acheh parliament speaker Muhammad Yus to meet with GAM to talk about Ghazali Usman, who was detained by GAM. Ishak Daud has also invited the East Acheh district head and the Acheh chairperson of the PAN party, to which Ghazali belonged. He suggested that to ensure that there would be no deception, representatives from the ICRC and the Henry Dunant Centre were invited.
U.S.-based oil and gas company ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia Inc. resumed last Friday (12 Oct.) the operation of its Cluster III gas facility, the last of its four clusters at the Arun gas fields to come back on line.
Health
West Acheh health official Iman Jaya said there has been an increase in the number of people suffering from diarrhoea in the three sub-districts of Johan Pahlawan, Sampoinit and Lhok Kruet. Up to 150 people were affected between 1 and 16 October, and 128 of them were children under ten from Johan Pahlawan, Meulaboh.
IDPs
According to OXFAM-GB the number of the IDPs decreased from 11,811 people last week to 10,011 people this week:
Pidie: 1043 people -- 203 families
North Acheh: 190 people -- 40 families
East Acheh: 3,567 people -- 926 families
Central Acheh: 3,511 people -- 902 families
Bireuen: 1,085 people -- 197 families
West Acheh: 615 people -- 159 families
3. CENTRAL SULAWESI
General Situation
Unidentified armed men shot at a public bus carrying about 40 passengers in the Sausu sub-district of Donggala district in Central Sulawesi on Sunday (14 Oct.), killing one woman passenger and seriously wounding four others, according to Antara news agency. The Donggala District Police confirmed the incident but could provide no further details.
The provincial Social Welfare Office has found that some 1,000 IDPs in various camps in Central Sulawesi who claimed to have been displaced from Poso following the riots in May 2000 were in fact not IDPs. They had obtained fake documents to pass off as IDPs in order to receive food and other rations, according to Astaga e-news provider Tuesday (16 Oct.). The Social Welfare officials conducted a census last month, urged by NGOs who became suspicious when they learned that the number of reported IDPs in the provincial capital had jumped from 27,000 in April to 40,000 two months later. There were a total of 78,000 IDPs in the province.
4. IRIAN JAYA
General Situation
Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid is scheduled to appear at the Jayapura District Court on 22 October to give testimony on behalf of several executives of the Papuan Council Presidium (PDP) who have been charged with subversion. A team of defence lawyers said they had gained Gus Dur's confirmation. Gus Dur is to give testimony in connection with his Rp1 billion contribution for the Papuan People's Congress held in the city on 1 December 2000. Theys Hiyo Eluay, PDP chairman, Thaha Al Hamid, PDP secretary-general, Don A. Flassy, chairman of the Independent Youth Organization, Rev. Herman Awom, and John Mambor, a PDP member, are facing life imprisonment for their alleged involvement in the movement to incite the Papuan people to fight for independence.
The military in Timika arrested on Tuesday (16 Oct.) seven alleged rebels and seized 10 guns and many rounds of ammunition in a joint raid operation with the local police on the Papua National Liberation Army (TPNP) camps in Kali Kopi village.
The death of a rebel leader, Willem Onde, in Merauke area was officially confirmed by his family members and reported to the police office for further investigation.
Hundred of people from the Moi tribe in Sorong occupied the local house of parliament in Sorong demanding that their candidates be elected mayor and vice mayor of Sorong municipality. The police arrested a German and a French, accusing them of provoking the people. The Sorong parliament has been discussing accusations that money politics were involved in the election.
Special Autonomy
Vice Governor Constan Karma emphasized that there would be no bargaining on the proposition of revenue sharing of 20% for the central government and 80% for the province. The draft bill on special autonomy for Papua is to be adopted on 22 October 2001.
Food Supplies
Irregular flights to Wamena caused basic commodities to become scarce and prices skyrocketed. Rice is sold at Rp6,000/kg and eggs for Rp1,100 each.
5. MALUKU
General Situation
Security concerns continue to dominate the attention of aid workers in Ambon. Bomb explosions occurred in both Muslim and Christian areas. At a coordination meeting with NGOs chaired by the Vice Governor last Friday (12 Oct.) the TNI representative suggested that international staff should take a 'holiday' for a few days. He would not elaborate on the reasons. On Sunday the UN Field Security Officer (AFSO) in Ambon recommended that all international and national staff should relocate to Jakarta temporarily. Staff from UNICEF and UNRC were relocated to Jakarta between Tuesday and Wednesday and another group will move out on Friday or Saturday with the AFSO. One international staff member from Save the Children (UK) also moved out to Denpasar last Tuesday. As a result, only limited humanitarian activity is currently carried out by NGOs. MSF-B, Mercy Corp and AcF are still operating in Maluku but with reduced staff. Two international staff from IMC are still in Bali working on their recruiting programme.
Assessment and Planning
MSF-B sent an assessment mission to West Seram and Northwest Seram, which includes three small islands located on the west coast (Buano, Xelang, and Manipa). They will assess the population's access to health facilities, water and sanitary conditions, logistics (transportation, boat navigation, refuelling points) and the security situation.
AcF's data collection in Haruku, Saparua, Tehoru and Hatu is ongoing and is expected to be completed within one week.
Food Security
The food security sectoral group organised by Mercy Corps and AcF had a meeting with representatives of about 20 local NGOs. They focused on issues and problems affecting the agricultural sector. The micro-credit and fishery sub-groups are organizing a similar meeting next week. After this process, the group will select a delegation to talk to the Government on the issues raised.
AcF is in the process of organizing their last round of general food distribution to 26,151 Christian and 22,639 Muslim registered beneficiaries in Ambon. The distribution, consisting of rice, sugar, salt, and cooking oil, will start on 23 October. In the following months ACF will distribute food to specific target groups and continue the piloting of their "enabling" programmes of seeds and tools distribution. They will also be embarking on new activities such as setting up an "IDP map" that will help their organization project movements and resettlements of IDPs.
Health and Nutrition
As mentioned in last week's report, MSF-B will be reducing the number of mobile clinics, from six teams to four. Each team will consist of three personnel instead of two, as these mobile clinics will be providing additional services in hygiene and health education. The third person in the team will be providing this additional service.
MSF-B re-stocked the hospitals in Ambon with medicines. They are also scheduled to give training to hospitals on emergency surgery.
Water & Sanitation
UNICEF is in the process of preparing for the handing over of the sanitation services it has been operating in Ambon City to the local government. The handover will include the transfer of the garbage and septic trucks and garbage containers. UNICEF through two local NGOs, one Christian and one Muslim, has been running the City sanitation services for the last six months. However the process of handing over the services maybe delayed due to the temporary relocation of staff to Jakarta this week.
Shelter
Mercy Corps is working to finalise another project in North Buru. The proposed project will repair and rehabilitate over 500 houses for people returning to their villages.
6. NORTH MALUKU
General Situation
Drs. Ismail Gorotomole, the Secretary of Central Halmahera District told Antara news agency in Tidore that the Sultanate of Tidore would pioneer the reconciliation process in the district. This process will involve all members of society who will gather on 31 October to mark the 11th anniversary of the creation of the district. The theme of the day will be reconciliation. Activities will include a ceremony involving the Sultan of Tidore, religious leaders, traditional community figures, community leaders, youth as well as Muslim and Christian IDP representatives.
IDPs
The social welfare office of North Maluku district reported that as of 15 October, a total of 44,688 IDPs have returned to their villages.
Assessments
AcF conducted an assessment on food sufficiency in Ibu, Sahu and Jailolo in preparation for the distribution of seeds, tools and fishing equipment. On Doi Island, Loloda sub-district, food security monitoring was carried out.
WVI conducted a health survey in 33 IDP camps around Ternate City to prepare a training on health education and the distribution of hygiene kits to mothers with children under five. The program will involve around 500 beneficiaries.
Food and non-food assistance
The government distribution of side-dish money and rice for IDPs in Galela sub-district was delayed as seven villages not directly affected by the conflict asked to be included as beneficiaries. According to the department of social welfare of North Maluku district, 8,138 people in the sub-district are eligible to receive this assistance.
Water & Sanitation
MDM's logistic support to a water and sanitation programme in Sahu, Jailolo sub-districts continued during the week.
7. SOUTHEAST SULAWESI - BUTON
General Situation
Following last week's clashes between local residents and IDPs in Buton Island, the police maintained a strong presence in the main town, Bau-Bau, and blockaded the road to Wakonti village, where the IDPs are staying. Between two and eight people might have died in the conflict. Police during the weekend arrested two IDP youth suspected of detonating a bomb in Bau-Bau last week. The local government has warned that IDPs might be sent back to Ambon. This could raise further tensions in the future. Most IDPs are descendants of Butonese who migrated to Maluku. They fled Maluku at the start of the conflict two years ago. Save the Children-UK, which had closed its office last week following the clashes, reopened this week with two international and four national staff.
On 17 October a boat reportedly arrived with some 200 armed individuals on board. Who they are and what they intend to do is not yet clear.
8. WEST TIMOR
General Situation
The situation throughout West Timor including the refugee camps remained calm. No clashes or incidents were reported. The District Police detained 14 suspects believed to have been involved in gambling activities and an attack on a police station in SoE district.
Repatriation
UNTAS leader Carlos Maria de Fatima urged the government to focus on the refugee resettlement programme instead of promoting repatriation. He accused the government of having neglected the results of the refugee registration in which the majority of the refugees opted to stay in Indonesia.
On 17 October, some 370 people from Ainaro, led by Nemésio Lopes de Carvalho, the former Deputy Commander of the Mahidi militia, returned to Oecussi in East Timor in a process facilitated by independence leader Xanana Gusmão, UNTAET's Chief of Staff N. Parameswaran and former pro-autonomy leaders from the Mahidi militia. After crossing the border at Salele, Nemésio Lopes de Carvalho was brought by staff from the Serious Crimes Unit to Dili where he appeared before an Investigating Judge trying to ascertain the degree of his involvement in the violence surrounding the 1999 Popular Consultation. He was later conditionally released and returned to Salele for the next day's return (18 Oct.) of another 345 refugees.
On 18 October as well, over 500 refugees from Covalima district returned to East Timor from refugee camps in Betun, West Timor. Xanana Gusmao, UNTAET and the former Covalima pro-autonomy leader Helio Moniz Caetano, who returned to East Timor on 19 September with over 250 refugees, had facilitated this process. The returns, in which UNTAET, UNHCR and IOM played crucial roles, follow a series of recent border meetings in Salele between Gusmão, Ainaro elders and leaders of the Ainaro refugees, including Nemésio Lopes de Carvalho's brothers Câncio and Fransisco
Some 140 East Timorese serving with the Indonesian Police Force visited East Timor on 18 October to meet with Xanana Gusmao and the newly-appointed Commissioner for the East Timor Police Service, Paulo Martins. The officers have expressed their desire to return to East Timor.
Health
There are fears that with the start of the rainy season, cases of malaria and common diseases such as diarrhea and upper respiratory infection will increase among the refugees living in camps. Cases of moderately malnourished children were noticed in TTU and Belu refugee camps.
Water and Sanitation
CARE International is building water tanks in refugee camps in North Central Timor district (TTU) and Belu districts. MSF-Holland is also building water tanks at camps in TTU. Refugees in those camps are being encouraged to maintain the water tanks.
The government is regularly trucking water to the refugee camps but the quality of water is poor and the quantity is not sufficient.
9. OTHER
The Ministry of Health has spent Rp46.8 billion (US$4.7 million) in health care, including additional food for children, water and sanitation, for some 1.4 million IDPs/refugees in 20 Indonesian provinces in 2001, Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi said on Monday.
This report and all previous ones can be found on OCHA's website at www.reliefweb.int
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
UN Building 4th Floor
Jl. MH Thamrin 14
P.O. Box 2238, Indonesia
FAX: (62-21) 319-00-003
PHONE: ( 62-21) 314-1308
Ext. 215, 151, 125
The article is distributed by Tapol in London
|
