Minister Susi Just Knows Rhun Island Once Swapped with Manhattan

Ambon, Maluku, (Antara) - Minister of fisheries and maritime affairs Susi Pudjiastuti said she was only aware that Rhun island in the eastern province if Maluku had been swapped with Manhattan nown known as New York in the US 350 years ago.

"Today I only knew that Rhun island was swapped with Manhattan 350 years ago," she said when signing a plaque to mark the 350th anniversary of Treaty of Breda with US ambassador Joseph R Donovan Jr, Maluku regional administration secretary Hamin Bin Thahir and deputy head of Maluku Tengah district, Mariatu Leleury, on the island of Rhun on Sunday.

She said it was an extraordinary and unforgettable for her to be present at the commemoration of the agreement for the swap of Rhun island which was then producer of top spices signed by Netherlands and  Britain was an extraordinary and unforgettable moment.

"This small island is really extraordinary. It is found its potential as spices producer was once huge to make it to be competed by the Netherlands and Britain," she said.

Minister Susi said jokingly to US ambassador Donovan to again swap Rhun with Manhattan so later she could sell one of the buildings there to agsin but Rhun and so she would get Manhattan and at the same time also Rhun.

She said she needed to tell the swap story to the younger generations in Maluku as well as in Indonesia fir them to akways remember.

"The history must be revealed because from here European and Asian countries knew Indonesia. Even from the agreement 350 years ago the history of New York as the heart of the United States was established," she said.

The Rhun island and other isles in the Banda Archipelago are now not only rich in spices which used to be the most coveted natural resources in the world bug also in maritime potentials, including tourism and culture as well as fishery resources, she said.

"In view of that all the rich resources must be preserved  for livelihood of the future generation and development purposes in Central Maluku as well as Maluku and Indonesia," she said.

Hamin Bin Thahir said the commemoration was worth appreciation and served as a special message for the local government and people to fight for their future progress and welfare.

"It was more special because it was attended by US ambassador Donovan who hails from New York," he said.

He said the Maluku provincial government has declared Banda archipelago as one of special economic zones of tourism and fishery which is expected to contribute to improving the welfare of the people and development in the region.(*)