Ex-ministers to be queried over Ambon clashes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A House of Representatives working commission
\nwill question Gen. Wiranto and two other former Cabinet ministers
\nnext week over persistent riots in Maluku.<\/p>\n
"We plan to question the former ministers from Dec. 14 to Dec.
\n17," commission chairman I Nyoman Gunawan said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Apart from Wiranto, who is currently coordinating minister for
\npolitical affairs and security, the commission will also question
\nWiranto's predecessor Feisal Tanjung and religious affairs
\nminister Malik Fadjar.<\/p>\n
Nyoman from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said
\nMaluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina would also be questioned over
\nthe continual ethnic and religious clashes.<\/p>\n
The commission also asked the government to be included in the
\ndelegation when President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri visit Ambon on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Clashes in the usually peaceful Maluku has shaken the area
\nsince the beginning of the year. Some 1,000 people have died in
\nthe chain of violence.<\/p>\n
Border<\/p>\n
Most people seem to be at a loss at explaining the violence,
\nand measures to curtail the clashes so far have only sparked more
\ncontroversy.<\/p>\n
One proposal which has met strong resistance is establishing a
\ndemarcation line which would separate Muslim and Christian
\ncommunities.<\/p>\n
The commission's secretary Sayuti Lahawari of the Masyumi
\nIslamic Party and legislator Ahmad Sumargono from the Crescent
\nStar Party are among those who have advocated physical separation
\nof the two communities.<\/p>\n
"But separation would be just in districts in Ambon, not in
\nNorth Maluku and South Maluku," Sayuti remarked here on Friday.<\/p>\n
But House Deputy Speaker for political affairs and security
\nSoetardjo Soerjogoeritno and Amidhan from the Indonesian Ulemas
\nCouncil (MUI) has strongly rejected the idea.<\/p>\n
Amidhan dismissed the proposal on Friday, saying such a
\nstopgap remedy would not resolve the overall tension there.<\/p>\n
"They are already separated by religion and now they are going
\nto be separated by area, it would not be good for the future,"
\nAmidhan told reporters.<\/p>\n
He argued that reconciliation between religious leaders was
\nthe only permanent solution.<\/p>\n
"(However) Before reaching reconciliation the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) should first bring law and order to the area," he
\nsaid after presenting donations to refugees from Maluku and East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
"It is ghastly to think that if the clashes continue until
\nIdul Fitri it would mean the clashes would have lasted the whole
\nMuslim Year," he remarked, noting that the communal clashes in
\nthe province broke out on the second day of Idul Fitri last
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
The head of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) crisis
\ncenter, Rev. Leonard Halle, supported Amidhan's view.<\/p>\n
"I agree that a demarcation line would only make the situation
\nmore difficult," Leonard said.<\/p>\n
He stressed that dialog between religious leaders was a more
\nplausible means of solving the core issue of the disputes.<\/p>\n
President<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Ambon, an air of expectancy prevailed as people
\nwaited for Sunday's arrival of President Abdurrahman Wahid and
\nVice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Many are hoping that it will be a key moment marking the end
\nof hatred and the start of peace.<\/p>\n
But the calm surroundings were not an indication of easing
\ntension.<\/p>\n
Officials in Ambon point out that Abuddurahman and Megawati
\nmay have to use a Kakap warship to transport them from the
\nPertamina port, about 30 kilometers outside Ambon, to Yos Sudarso
\nPort in Ambon. From there they will continue on to Maluku
\nGovernor Saleh Latuconsina's office in the city.<\/p>\n
Many parts of the road from Pattimura Airport to the
\ngovernor's office are blocked by local residents.<\/p>\n
Sylvia Hilaitupa, 67, who was forced to flee from her home in
\nHila village, hoped that a new beginning would commence as of
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
"I just want to go home. I hope the two leaders will be able
\nto create peace here. I don't know why people want to kill each
\nother when we all have the same God," the Christian grandmother
\ntold The Jakarta Post while queuing to get her monthly ration at
\na refugees camp.<\/p>\n
Sylivia and her three grandchildren have been living in the
\nrefugee camp at Halong naval base for several months.<\/p>\n
Ani, who identifies herself as a Butonese from Sulawesi, said
\nthat as a Muslim and a mother of two small children, all she
\nreally wanted was for peace to prevail, including living with her
\nChristian neighbors.<\/p>\n
However, she said she could understand if some of her
\nrelatives wanted to take revenge for the death of family members.<\/p>\n
"But if we just follow our anger we will never be able to end
\nthis chaos," said Ani, who is among the 4,000 refugees at the
\nnaval base camp.<\/p>\n
Maluku Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela expressed
\nstrong hope that Abdurrahman and Megawati would be able to
\nintroduce a new solution to end the violent conflicts.<\/p>\n
Max said he had ordered all military personnel under his
\ncommand to remain neutral and refrain from acting arrogantly
\nwhich could further erode people's trust in the military.<\/p>\n
Governor Latuconsina said the President would arrive 30
\nminutes after the Vice President's arrival at 11:30 local time.<\/p>\n
Both of them will use Hercules military transport aircraft.<\/p>\n
In Ambon they will hold an open, hour-long meeting with local
\nleaders, which will be followed by closed-door meetings with 20
\nleaders of the parties involved in the conflict.<\/p>\n
After the meeting, Abdurrahman will fly directly back to
\nJakarta, while Megawati will stay one night in Ambon before
\nleaving for Biak, Irian Jaya, where she will also stay for one
\nnight.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday morning she will fly to Ternate, the capital of the
\nnewly established North Maluku province, and meet with local
\nleaders, before flying back to Jakarta in the afternoon.
\n(04\/50\/prb\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ex-ministers-to-be-queried-over-ambon-clashes-1447893297",
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