Kostrad to stage antiriot exercise in Ambon<\/p>\n
Oktovianus Pinontoan
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nAmbon<\/p>\n
The Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) will hold an
\nantiriot exercise in the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon in
\nJuly in a bid to help end the prolonged conflict and restore
\nsecurity and order in the restive city, says Kostrad Commander
\nLt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu<\/p>\n
"The week-long exercise will involve a battalion, or a
\nbrigade, of Kostrad's personnel from all units aimed at ending
\nvarious security, defense and sectarian problems that have caused
\ngreat suffering for the local people.<\/p>\n
Asked whether the exercise had something to do with the
\ngovernment's plan to dissolve the South Maluku Republic (RMS)
\nsecessionist movement and the proindependence Maluku Sovereignty
\nForum (FKM) and expel militant group Laskar Jihad, Ryamizard
\ninsisted that the military had its own interests to create a
\npeaceful condition in the province, which is part of the unitary
\nstate of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"We deplore the prolonged conflict that has brought suffering
\nto the local people," he said, adding that the conflict that
\nerupted in January 1999 has claimed thousands of lives, displaced
\nhundreds of thousands of others and damaged vital assets and
\npublic buildings in the city.<\/p>\n
Kostrad also held a similar military exercise in Poso, Central
\nSulawesi, last July, where only weeks later conflicting factions
\nsigned the peace agreement in Malino, South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Maluku authorities under the civil emergency have failed to
\nenforce the Malino peace deal and the central government's
\ndirectives because of poor coordination between the governor, the
\nlocal military and the local police.<\/p>\n
Despite the peace deal, the Maluku authorities have been
\nunable to dissolve the RMS and FKM and to expel Laskar Jihad from
\nthe province.<\/p>\n
He said the military had deployed one battalion to the
\nPattimura Military Command and had no plan to send
\nreinforcements.<\/p>\n
Ryamizard who was accompanied by Army's Special Force
\n(Kopassus) Commander Maj. Gen. Amirul Isnaeni was scheduled to
\nmeet with Governor Saleh Latuconsina, Brig. Gen. Mustopo, chief
\nof the Pattimura Military Command and Brig. Gen. Soenarko, chief
\nof the Maluku Provincial Police to discuss security and defense
\nproblems in the province.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kostrad-to-stage-antiriot-exercise-in-ambon-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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