High-powered delegation to assess Maluku conflict<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A high-powered ministerial, military and police delegation is
\nscheduled to visit Maluku next week to seek an end to the
\nprolonged sectarian violence plaguing the province.<\/p>\n
Included on the three-day peace mission from Jan. 21 are
\nCoordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Investment and
\nEconomy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro Djakti and Coordinating Minister for
\nPeople's Welfare Jusuf Kalla.<\/p>\n
The ministers would be accompanies by Indonesian Military
\nCommander Adm. Widodo A.S., National Police Chief Gen. Da'i
\nBachtiar and National Information Bureau chief A.M.
\nHendropriyono.<\/p>\n
Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina said in Jakarta on Thursday
\nthat the trip was a follow-up to their recent meeting with Maluku
\nofficials in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The (delegation) will assess the situation amid the state of
\ncivilian emergency imposed since July 27, 2001.\"<\/p>\n
Latuconsina said that during their stay in the province, the
\ndelegation would assess the possibility of seeking a solution to
\nthe conflict, as they had done in Poso, Central Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
\"All sides must support efforts made by the government to
\nsolve the three-year conflict that has brought suffering to the
\nlocal people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
If it gained support from the two conflicting factions of
\nMuslims and Christians, the government should also include
\nconflicting groups from Sulawesi, Java and Sumatra who were
\nlinked to the conflict, Latuconsina said.<\/p>\n
\"Such a policy will likely raise the prospect that there are
\ncertain sides who don't want the situation in the province
\nresolved peacefully but this should not necessarily raise
\npessimism among those who want to end the conflict.<\/p>\n
\"The government will take strict action against those
\nviolating any peaceful agreement the two conflicting factions
\nwill make,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Latuconsina said the situation in Ambon was still tense and,
\ntherefore, the state emergency should be maintained on the island
\neven though many other areas in the province were returning to
\nnormal.<\/p>\n
The last incident on the island occurred last Sunday when a
\ngroup of gunmen attacked Rutong Village in Sirimau Subdistrict,
\nleaving a villager dead and two others injured.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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