Long promised prosecutors yet to arrive in Maluku<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Some 30 prosecutors the government promised to send to Maluku
\nseveral months ago are yet to arrive in the strife-torn province.<\/p>\n
Head of Maluku High Prosecution Office, I Made Sunetja said on
\nTuesday that the conflict-torn province was facing a serious
\nshortage of prosecutors -- a crucial element in law enforcement.<\/p>\n
\"We urge the Attorney General's Office to order those
\nprosecutors to immediately come to Maluku and carry out their
\nduties here because the province is unable to handle all law
\nviolations and other serious cases with limited prosecutors,\" I
\nMade was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
He refused to speculate the reasons why the prosecutors had
\nnot shown up. Early this year, the government promised to send
\nmore prosecutors and judges to Maluku.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said
\nin June that senior judges would be sent to Maluku to handle over
\n100 cases but there had been no news about the judges coming
\nsince then.<\/p>\n
Law enforcements issues forms part of a peace agreement signed
\nby representatives of warring Maluku Muslim and Christian
\ncommunities in Malino, South Sulawesi on Feb. 12, 2002.<\/p>\n
The conflict, which has reportedly claimed more than 6,000
\nlives, scared off almost all the prosecutors, judges and court
\nclerks, working in the province.<\/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
\"There were only seven prosecutors at the Maluku High
\nProsecution Office, far below the ideal number of 15, while there
\nare only two prosecutors at the Masohi district court in Central
\nMaluku,\" Sunetja said.<\/p>\n
According to Sunetja, there are 84 prosecutors assigned to 15
\ndistrict courts in the province.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina said on Tuesday
\nthat poor law enforcement had undermined efforts to put an end to
\na religious conflict that has been beleaguering the province
\nsince January 1999.<\/p>\n
\"Law violations should be handled and exposed as soon as
\npossible but unfortunately there are still obstacles in
\naddressing the problems,\" Latuconsina was quoted by Antara as
\nsaying on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He refused to reveal problems encountered in enforcing the law
\nin the province. \"You journalists already know the obstacles, I
\ndon't have to explain them in details,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He appealed to local people to help the law enforces in
\nresolving the problems there by giving information on what was
\nhappening in their respective communities.<\/p>",
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