JP\/4\/MEGA<\/p>\n
Ambon roadblocks lifted ahead of Megawati's visit<\/p>\n
M. Azis Tunny
\nAmbon<\/p>\n
All barricades that were established two days ago by an
\nantiseparatist group on main streets across downtown Ambon,
\nMaluku, were lifted on Friday to prepare for a visit by President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri to the riot-torn city on Saturday.<\/p>\n
A number of presidential security guards were seen in the city
\nensuring the safety of Megawati's first trip to Ambon after fresh
\nclashes there last month killed at least 39 people.<\/p>\n
Despite renewed tension triggered by the establishment of
\nroadblocks on Wednesday by the antiseparatist group affiliated to
\nthe Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), Maluku Governor Karel Albert
\nRalahalu gave an assurance that it would be safe for the
\nPresident to go to Ambon on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The group is also planning to stage a demonstration against
\nseparatists from the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), timed to
\ncoincide with Megawati's arrival.<\/p>\n
\"We have torn down the barricades and hope that the
\npresidential visit will go ahead as scheduled,\" Karel told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The roadblocks were set up to put pressure on the Maluku
\nauthorities to capture other FKM members still at large.<\/p>\n
The FKM, which supports the South Maluku Republic (RMS), was
\nblamed for triggering renewed fighting in Ambon on April 25, its
\n54th anniversary. Police later rounded up leaders and activists
\nfrom the group.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, a seaborne sniper wounded a fisherman in Ambon
\nwhile a man was arrested carrying bombs, police were quoted by
\nAFP saying on Friday.<\/p>\n
The renewed violence shattered a peace accord signed in
\nFebruary 2002 by Muslim and Christian leaders to end three years
\nof sectarian fighting that started on Jan. 19, 1999. Some 6,000
\npeople were killed and hundreds of thousands of people were
\nforced to flee.<\/p>\n
Local leaders and analysts say the fresh clashes were
\ndeliberately instigated ahead of the presidential election on
\nJuly 5. The previous fighting also started ahead of the 1999
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who is seeking reelection, is slated to be in Ambon
\nfor only two hours, the main purpose of the visit being to
\ninaugurate five development projects, worth Rp 97.6 billion
\n(US$10.8 million).<\/p>\n
The projects, spread across Maluku, will be financed from the
\nstate budget.<\/p>\n
Apart from the inauguration ceremony, the President will meet
\nwith local religious and community leaders to discuss attempts to
\nend the prolonged conflict in Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"There will be a meeting with local leaders, but before that
\nthe President will hold a teleconference with the Seram regent
\nwhile inaugurating the Matakabo dam in his regency,\" Karel said.<\/p>\n
To secure the President's visit, Pattimura Military Commander
\nMaj. Gen. Syarifuddin Summah said he was deploying three
\nbattalions of troops in the province.<\/p>\n
\"We will prioritize the visit and assign as many troops as
\npossible to maintain security,\" he said.<\/p>\n
From the three battalions, some 2,600 soldiers have been
\nassigned to guard vital installations and multistory buildings in
\nAmbon, similar to those from where snipers shot dead most of the
\nvictims in the April fighting.<\/p>\n
Syarifuddin said, however, he could not yet guarantee as of
\nFriday security around the Merdeka area, where Megawati's
\nhelicopter will land from Ambon's Pattimura Airport at around 3
\np.m.<\/p>\n
After the brief visit to Ambon, Megawati is scheduled to fly
\nto neighboring North Maluku, where she will stay overnight in the
\nprovincial capital, Ternate.<\/p>\n
The President will later continue her journey to Timika, Papua
\nprovince, on Sunday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp4mega-1447899208",
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