WHAT CAUSES POVERTY IN MALUKU?
by Thamrin Ely
The poverty level in Maluku Province has increase
substantially since 2004. The current poverty level is at approx.60%, an
increase of ~30% since 2004. As a result, Maluku is now in "ABSOLUTE POVERTY".
Development has not taken place in Maluku, thus it's safe to say that the
Provincial Government of Maluku has abandoned its people, the poor Moluccans.
The social conflict that took place in Maluku between 1999 to 2003 has opened up
a lot of opportunities for Maluku to speed up its recovery & development
processes simply because post conflict era has brought abundant funding to
Maluku, be it from national sources as well as international supports. The
President Decree no.6 (INPRES 6) is one very good example where both Maluku
& North Maluku provinces have been given special funds to rebuild
themselves. This and other forms of funds have been pouring into Maluku, but
none is able to even maintain the poverty level. Instead, the poverty level is
rapidly increasing!! The World Bank's "Voices of the Poor", based on research
with over 20,000 poor people in 23 countries, identifies a range of factors
which poor people identify as part of poverty. These include:
1.precarious livelihoods, 2.excluded locations, 3.physical
limitations, 4.gender relationships, 5.problems in social relationships, 6.lack
of security, 7.abuse by those in power, 8.disempowering institutions, 9. limited
capabilities, and 10. weak community organisations.
Out of the 10 factors of poverty, point number 7 & 8 are highlighted simply because
they're most relevant to Maluku's current condition. The Government of Maluku
Province has frequently abusing its power by unjustly & incorrectly spending
its money. With over Rp.10 Triliun of incoming fund in the past 3 years, Maluku
should be better off by now. Additionally, The Government of Maluku has also
disempowered its State-Owned enterprises such as PD Panca Karya by placing
incompetent individuals to sit on the executive positions. Their appointments
have disabled the institution to grow and achieve the ideal profitability level
as it should have been able to accomplish. This is the true nepotism at its
best! In West Southeastern part of Maluku, out of 18,000 primary school
graduates each year, only 4,000 are able to enter into high school. Maluku is
loosing at least 14,000 new generation each year! This has been going on for
sometimes and the Provincial Government of Maluku has done very little to
overcome this critical issue. Four (4) years after the social conflict, over
9,000 refugees are still stranded. To date, no clear picture of what probable
solutions that the Provincial Government will take to finally solve this
prolonged issue!
The international communities are urged to speak up & put
pressure to the Provincial Government of Maluku to seriously take care of its
two main issues: Poverty & Refugees. Maluku has been going against The
Millenium Development Goals set by the whole world, i.e. to reduce poverty by
halve in 2015. Instead, Maluku has been actively increasing its poverty level
significantly!
Send your
Letter of Concern to the following Officials:
Mr. Karel Albert Ralahalu
Governor of Maluku 2nd floor Jl. Raya Pattimura no.1 Ambon, Maluku 97128 Phone:
+62 911 352321 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +62 911 352321
end_of_the_skype_highlighting Fax: +62 911 352180 Dr. Ristianto Sugiono Head of
Planning & Development Board 3rd floor Jl. Raya Pattimura no.1 Ambon, Maluku
917128 Phone: +62 911 352043 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +62
911 352043 end_of_the_skype_highlighting Fax: +62 911 355933 Email:
bappeda_maluku@yahoo.com
by Thamrin Ely
The poverty level in Maluku Province has increase
substantially since 2004. The current poverty level is at approx.60%, an
increase of ~30% since 2004. As a result, Maluku is now in "ABSOLUTE POVERTY".
Development has not taken place in Maluku, thus it's safe to say that the
Provincial Government of Maluku has abandoned its people, the poor Moluccans.
The social conflict that took place in Maluku between 1999 to 2003 has opened up
a lot of opportunities for Maluku to speed up its recovery & development
processes simply because post conflict era has brought abundant funding to
Maluku, be it from national sources as well as international supports. The
President Decree no.6 (INPRES 6) is one very good example where both Maluku
& North Maluku provinces have been given special funds to rebuild
themselves. This and other forms of funds have been pouring into Maluku, but
none is able to even maintain the poverty level. Instead, the poverty level is
rapidly increasing!! The World Bank's "Voices of the Poor", based on research
with over 20,000 poor people in 23 countries, identifies a range of factors
which poor people identify as part of poverty. These include:
1.precarious livelihoods, 2.excluded locations, 3.physical
limitations, 4.gender relationships, 5.problems in social relationships, 6.lack
of security, 7.abuse by those in power, 8.disempowering institutions, 9. limited
capabilities, and 10. weak community organisations.
Out of the 10 factors of poverty, point number 7 & 8 are highlighted simply because
they're most relevant to Maluku's current condition. The Government of Maluku
Province has frequently abusing its power by unjustly & incorrectly spending
its money. With over Rp.10 Triliun of incoming fund in the past 3 years, Maluku
should be better off by now. Additionally, The Government of Maluku has also
disempowered its State-Owned enterprises such as PD Panca Karya by placing
incompetent individuals to sit on the executive positions. Their appointments
have disabled the institution to grow and achieve the ideal profitability level
as it should have been able to accomplish. This is the true nepotism at its
best! In West Southeastern part of Maluku, out of 18,000 primary school
graduates each year, only 4,000 are able to enter into high school. Maluku is
loosing at least 14,000 new generation each year! This has been going on for
sometimes and the Provincial Government of Maluku has done very little to
overcome this critical issue. Four (4) years after the social conflict, over
9,000 refugees are still stranded. To date, no clear picture of what probable
solutions that the Provincial Government will take to finally solve this
prolonged issue!
The international communities are urged to speak up & put
pressure to the Provincial Government of Maluku to seriously take care of its
two main issues: Poverty & Refugees. Maluku has been going against The
Millenium Development Goals set by the whole world, i.e. to reduce poverty by
halve in 2015. Instead, Maluku has been actively increasing its poverty level
significantly!
Send your
Letter of Concern to the following Officials:
Mr. Karel Albert Ralahalu
Governor of Maluku 2nd floor Jl. Raya Pattimura no.1 Ambon, Maluku 97128 Phone:
+62 911 352321 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +62 911 352321
end_of_the_skype_highlighting Fax: +62 911 352180 Dr. Ristianto Sugiono Head of
Planning & Development Board 3rd floor Jl. Raya Pattimura no.1 Ambon, Maluku
917128 Phone: +62 911 352043 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +62
911 352043 end_of_the_skype_highlighting Fax: +62 911 355933 Email:
bappeda_maluku@yahoo.com
