Rebuilding Lives
Last February, the Indonesian government, in collaboration with the European Union, organized a workshop on "Sustainable Peace and Development," held in Ambon, capital of Maluku province. The 1999 communal conflicts which exploded in Ambon and Buru Island forced 12,000, mostly poor families, to flee to other parts of Maluku. In 2007, the government declared that the refugee problem had been resolved, yet some of them still need help. One community of former refugees which has overcome their trauma and tribulation lives at the Argo Valley outside Ambon. Tempo English reporter Syari Fani visited the village, and reported on how these former refugees faced the challenge of rebuilding their shattered lives.
March 14, 2012
Identically-shaped homes are lined along the sides of the descending path that leads to the Lembah Hijau (Green Valley) settlement near Passo village in Ambon. At a glace, it looks like any housing complex,
On closer look, however, something is different. In front of each of the homes, hang signboards carrying names. "Each of the signboard has the name of the person who contributed to the building of the house," said Kace Ohoirenan, 56, one of
...