Judges to soon return to Maluku: Yusril<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is expected to soon send back judges to Maluku
\nto strengthen law enforcement in a bid to bring back peace to a
\nprovince ravaged by three years of sectarian violence.<\/p>\n
Prosecuting those violating the law is considered a crucial
\nphase in the peace process but the authorities are faced with a
\nserious shortage of judges and prosecutors.<\/p>\n
The law enforcement issue forms part of the agreement made
\nbetween the representatives of warring Maluku Muslim and
\nChristian communities in Malino, South Sulawesi on Feb. 12, 2002.<\/p>\n
The conflict, which has reportedly claimed some 6,000 lives,
\nscared off almost all the prosecutors, judges and court clerks,
\nworking in the province.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra,
\nspeaking on the sidelines of the people-smuggling conference in
\nBali, said the situation in Maluku had eased after the signing of
\nthe Malino peace accord.<\/p>\n
\"We are considering sending at least two boards of judges by
\nthe end of this month at the latest,\" said Yusril adding that his
\nministry would liaise with the Supreme Court regarding the
\nselection of the judges.<\/p>\n
Yusril had earlier said that he would send judges to Maluku
\nonly after the situation improved. His remarks have sparked
\nsevere criticism because the government was considered too slow
\nin implementing law enforcement there.<\/p>\n
Ambon District Court deputy chief F. Takaria complained that
\nMaluku was facing a serious shortage of prosecutors and judges --
\ntwo crucial elements in law enforcement.<\/p>\n
\"There were 10 judges at the Ambon District Court, including
\nits chief and deputy chief, before the conflict. Today only three
\njudges are left,\" he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Takaria added that Yusril had promised to send seven judges to
\nAmbon but had yet to do so.<\/p>\n
Separately, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, also
\nattending the conference, told reporters that police had
\nidentified two warring groups still committing violence in
\nMaluku.<\/p>\n
\"There are two groups -- Christian and Muslim -- which are
\nagainst the Malino peace deal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
They identified the Christian group as the separatist Maluku
\nSovereignty Forum (FKM) chaired by Dr. Alex Manuputti and the
\nMuslim group as Kelompok 11 (the Group of Eleven) chaired by
\nRustam Kastor.<\/p>\n
\"We will approach them and hear their what they have to say
\nand at the same time closely monitor their activities,\" said
\nDa'i, adding that these groups comprised minority interests.<\/p>\n
\"Their influence is not significant. However, the police could
\nonly arrest them if they are found violating the laws, such as
\npossessing illegal weapons.\"<\/p>\n
Regarding the presence of the Java-based Muslim militant group
\nLaskar Jihad, Dai said that as long as it was working on
\nhumanitarian activities, such as medical and social activities,
\nthe police could accept its presence.<\/p>\n
\"But, if they come to Maluku with weapons, we would certainly
\ntake stern action against them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In maintaining security in Maluku, Dai also plans to gradually
\nsend 590 members of the elite police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) to
\nJava for refresher programs.<\/p>\n
\"They have been in Maluku since the first conflict erupted
\nthree years ago. They are physically and mentally exhausted,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
They will be sent to training center in Porong to attend
\nvarious courses and training for one month.<\/p>\n
\"The rotation of the police members in Maluku is part of our
\nefforts to place fresh and objective officers in order to
\nmaintain security there,\" Dai said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, thousands of Maluku Muslims from South Sulawesi
\narrived on Wednesday at the Alfatah Grand Mosque in Ambon, to
\ndiscuss the Malino peace pact.<\/p>\n
Following the event at the mosque, more than 500 of the
\nparticipants from Pelauw, Kabauw, Rohomoni and Kailolo walked one
\nkilometer to the Maluku governor's office where they were greeted
\nwith hugs and tears by Christians from the same four areas.<\/p>\n
A Christian grassroots figure, Emang Nikijuluw, who witnessed
\nthe emotional reunion with Maluku administration officials, said
\nthat this was what Christians had always expected from Muslims.<\/p>\n
\"We are brothers ... but our Muslim and Christian communities
\nwere misused by a third party. If we fail to realize that now,
\nthe Maluku people will end up extinct from killing one another,\"
\nEmang said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/judges-to-soon-return-to-maluku-yusril-1447893297",
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