Maluku

1.6.1 Maluku

Maluku


Motto: Siwa Lima (Ambonese)
(Belongs together)


Capital
Ambon

Governor
Karel Albert Ralahalu
Population
1,266,000 (2,005 census)
Ethnic groups
Significantly mixed ethnicity; Melanesian, Kei (11%), Ambonese (11%), Buton (11%), Malays, Javanese, Chinese

Religion
Christianity, Islam

Languages
Indonesian, Ambonese, ethnic dialects
Time zone
WIT (UTC+9)

Web site http://www.malukuprov.go.id/

Maluku is a province of Indonesia, comprising, broadly, the southern part of the Maluku Islands (also known as the Moluccas, Molucca Islands or Moluccan Islands), which are culturally and geographically associated with Melanesia.[1]
The main city and capital of Maluku province is Ambon on the small Ambon Island. The province has a population of 1,313,022 (2004).
All the Maluku Islands formed a single province of Indonesia from 1950 until 1999. In 1999 the Maluku Utara Regency and Halmahera Tengah Regency were split off as a separate province of North Maluku.
Contents
1 Regencies and cities
2 List of major islands and island groups in Maluku
3 Chronology of Events of Recent Conflict in Maluku
3.1 January - February 1999
3.2 March - June 1999
3.3 July - December 1999
3.4 January - May 2000
3.5 June - August 2000
4 References

Regencies and cities
Buru (Namlea)
Kepulauan Aru (Dobo)
Maluku Tengah (Masohi)
Maluku Tenggara (Tual)
Maluku Tenggara Barat (Saumlaki)
Seram Bagian Barat (Dataran Hunipopu)
Seram Bagian Timur (Dataran Hunimoa)
Ambon
List of major islands and island groups in Maluku
Ambon Island
Aru Islands (Kepulauan Aru)
Babar Island
Barat Daya Islands (includes Wetar Island)
Banda Islands (Kepulauan Banda)
Buru
Kei Islands
Leti Islands
Makian
Saparua
Seram
Tanimbar Islands (Kepulauan Tanimbar)
See also: Islands of Indonesia
Chronology of Events of Recent Conflict in Maluku
January - February 1999
On Ambon Island, an argument between a Muslim passenger and Christian bus driver on January 19, 1999 developed into a fight that quickly spreads into days of violence with many casualties and much destruction of housing. The fighting quickly spreads to the nearby islands of Haruku, Seram and Saparua because of rumors.
March - June 1999
There is a four-month period of calm during which time Indonesia's first free national and regional elections in 44 years take place largely without violence. May 12, 1999, a peace declaration is signed between religious leaders, community and traditional leaders and youth figures and organizations.
July - December 1999
From July 27, major riots take place with hundreds of shops and homes destroyed. In August fighting breaks out in the newly created province of North Maluku (which until 1999 had been part of Maluku province), primarily due to political and ethnic not religious reasons. The second half of 1999 saw regular fighting across Maluku province with many casualties.
[January - May 2000
January 7, 2000, over 100,000 Muslims demonstrate in Jakarta calling for a jihad in Maluku in order to save the Muslims. In May the Laskar Jihad militia group begin to arrive in Maluku. 4,000 are reported to arrive in the province. Other Islamic militia groups are absorbed into it. Tensions rise within both religious groups. Muslim militias start to try to clear Christian villages out of key transportation corridors.
June - August 2000
On June 27, President Abdurrahman Wahid declares a state of civil emergency, giving the police and military broad new powers. By July 2000 there were approximately 14,000 troops in Maluku. Many of the villages across the bay from Ambon town as well as the main university of Pattiumura are destroyed. There has been large-scale displacement of populations. In August 2000, the Yon Gab, Joint Battalion arrives made up of soldiers from other