Indonesia: OCHA Humanitarian Update Jul 2004

Highlights:
The first direct presidential election ran smoothly and peacefully without major security incidents.

Three ash explosions of Mt. Egon in Sikka District of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) caused displacement of 439 households. The IDPs are reluctant to return home with fear and opted to remain in temporary accommodation.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued a presidential instruction that required Aceh Governor and Civil Emergency Administrator, Abdullah Puteh, to adhere to the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) summons.

A female Reverend shot dead an unidentified assailant during a sermon at Effata Church in Palu. Meanwhile, a bomb explosion and two separate murders occurred in Poso.

Former East Timor Governor, Abilio Soares, started to serve a three year jail term at Cipinang Prison, Jakarta.

Debates on the division of Papua province into three provinces have continued and conclusion has not been reached yet at the Constitutional Court.

The trials of the alleged Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) members in the Ambon District Court have been running smoothly under the tight security.

Through the Emergency Response Fund (ERF) pre-positioned by the Government of the United Kingdom, OCHA channels USD 35,720 for Save the Children UK to implement early start project for resettled IDP children in West Kalimantan

Major events:

National Election: The first direct presidential election on 5 July ran smoothly and peacefully without major security incidents. More than 130 million voters went to over 570,000 polling stations all over the country. Later on 26 July, the General Elections Commission (KPU) announced that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Megawati Soekarnoputri, who secured 39.8 million and 31.56 million votes respectively, will run for the presidency on 20 September. Prior to the announcement, a minor explosion occurred in KPU office in Jakarta that caused minor damage, but no casualties.

Natural Disaster: Two ash explosions of Mt. Egon in Sikka District of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) Province occurred in the beginning of the month and followed by another explosion at the end of the month. The last explosion has caused displacement of 439 households to the sub-districts of Bola and Waigete. The IDPs are reluctant to return home fearing of further explosion and opted to remain in the public places provided by the Local Governments in both sub-districts as temporary accommodations. According to the Directorate of Volcanology, this ash explosion will continue for sometime. However, evacuation is not required. The Local Government, through SATKORLAK and SATLAK, has formed a team to socialise the current condition of the volcano to avoid confusion and panic among the local communities. The Local Government has provided emergency relief.

Project Financing through ERF: OCHA channels US 35,720 for Save the Children UK (SC UK) to implement its education project for the resettled IDP children in Pontianak District, West Kalimantan. The project will consolidate past achievements under previously ERF supported projects, by providing additional capacity building efforts for community volunteers and encouraging communities to continue supporting the existing early childhood development centres. Through the centres, SC UK will promote appropriate childcare, early stimulation and learning, health and nutrition, and environmental sanitation education targeting children aged 2 to 6, their families, and the volunteers who teach them.

Regional Updates:

Aceh: Despite the claims by the Indonesian Military (TNI) that the number of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)'s fighters has been reduced from 8,500 to 4,500, very little improvement in terms of the security or economic situation has been observed. As reported by the local media and military sources, after 19 of May, at least 286 people were killed of which 230 were suspected GAM members, 46 civilians and 7 belonging to the security forces. There are no other independent sources present in the field to confirm the accurate number of GAM or civilian casualties. The rate of civilian abduction and missing persons also remained high at 25 people in July.

In efforts to improve the economy, the local administration opened another three districts namely Banda Aceh, Aceh Singkil and Simeulue Island to attract foreign investors and tourists to the province. This change might need more time before it could be legalised and approved by Jakarta. If it happens as a policy, it could boost the stagnated economy and lead to the return of international humanitarian workers to the province.

Central Sulawesi: Though the situation has largely returned to normal, sporadic attacks have still occurred in the Province. An unknown assailant shot a female Reverend dead during a sermon at Effata Church in Palu. Meanwhile few days before the killing in Palu, a bomb explosion and two separate murders occurred in Poso. The police said that one of the murders was purely criminal, while the other case is still under investigation. Situation in both places are under police control, however, the three separate incidents had made local residents and people avoid public places.

Maluku: Several isolated violence and negative rumours are still rife in the province. Since the last major violence in April 2004, there have been steady improvement in the security situation. The invisible demarcation line between the Muslim and Christian communities in Ambon City is gradually disappearing. Both communities have began to use common commuter terminals and several international organisations have resumed operations from their offices that are located in areas previously considered sensitive during the April violence.

The trials of alleged Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) members in the Ambon District Court have been running smoothly under tight security protection. In addition, the Secretary-General of FKM, the wife of its runaway leader, and another 17 members have gone for trial. The defendants are charged for their involvement in activities that caused renewed violence at the end of April.

On 27 July, the Head of OCHA Maluku Sub-office returned to Ambon.

Papua: Prolonged debates on the division of Papua Province into three provinces (West Irian Jaya, Central Irian Jaya and Papua) have continued. The Papua Legislative Council has sought a judicial review of the contradictory laws (Law No. 45/ 1999 on the formation of new West and Central Irian Jaya provinces and Law No. 21/2001 on special autonomy for Papua). However, the Constitutional Court, which started to hear the case months ago, has not yet been able to reach a conclusion. Meanwhile, the Papuan people remain divided on this issue.

Fresh tribal conflict occurred in Mimika District due to failure of local war chiefs to pay compensation for deaths that occurred in the initial violence in June between Nduga and Damal tribes. One person was killed and ten people were injured as a result of this conflict.

West Timor: Former East Timor Governor, Abilio Soares, started to serve a three year jail term at Cipinang Prison, Jakarta. Soares was found guilty of heavy human rights violation by the Human Rights Ad-hoc Court. Soares tried to appeal the sentence at the Supreme Court, but it was turned down.