Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ambon (Fides Service) - The word tourism has been banned in the Moluccas for years, since civil strife began in 2000 and dashed all hopes of seeing the arrival of foreign visitors. Indeed for security reasons the ports were kept closed. The last experience of tourism was when two Italians were trapped in Ambon when the hostilities exploded.
Today for the Moluccas civil stife is a thing of the past since the peace agreement signed in Malino on 2002 and as the people of the Moluccas gradually and with great difficulty resume normal social and economic life. In spite of the occasional episode of violence reconciliation between the former warring communities of Muslim immigrants and Protestant Christian locals has made progress thanks to initiatives to restore social harmony launched in schools, public places and social centres by NGOs and the local Catholic and Protestant Churches.
In view of the improved situation and because of widespread poverty and unemployment caused by years of unrest, the Indonesian government has said Moluccas ports may open again to tourists. Recently Indonesia added another 13 countries to the list of 20, mainly European and Asian, from which it will accept tourists.
Since the situation has improved and security is now guaranteed, many of the over 500,000 islanders who fled to escape the violence have returned but sad to say many are without work because many local businesses and small industries closed because of the war. Today one quarter of the people in Ambon live in dire poverty and the civil authorities still receive funds from the United Nations agencies. Now there is hope that with the ports open again tourism will bring the Islands’ economy the long awaited boost.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/6/2005 righe 26 parole 269)
