Maluku dialog ends with peace commitment<\/p>\n
LANGGUR, Maluku (JP): About 1500 representatives from Maluku
\nat the end of a five-day reconciliation dialog here have agreed
\nto continue peace efforts in a bid to end the prolonged sectarian
\nclashes.<\/p>\n
In a five-point message read out at the closing ceremony of
\nthree days of dialog here on Sunday, they also proposed that
\nlocal tradition and customs be used to accommodate differences
\namong the groups that live in the province.<\/p>\n
\"We will strengthen our resolve to really end the continuing
\ndisputes that have afflicted all of Maluku over the past two
\nyears ... We also propose the use of local traditions as a
\nmeeting point for accommodating the interests of the different
\ngroups in the province,\" the statement dubbed the \"Langgur
\nMessage\" said.<\/p>\n
The participants also recognized that the message was only the
\nfirst step on a long journey of dialog to return normality and
\npeace to Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"We demand that all local traditional leaders, or Bapa Radja,
\nonce again take the lead ... but at the same time support state
\nlaw and guarantee the acceptance of all migrants living in the
\nprovince,\" the statement said.<\/p>\n
The message and recommendation were agreed upon after a series
\nof long and tense dialogs between local leaders in the province
\nin a bid to rebuild normal life there.<\/p>\n
The message is to be signed by all the local leaders after
\neach group discusses the agreement further with their respective
\ncommunities<\/p>\n
The representatives from Muslim groups in Ambon at first
\nchoose to reject the agreement as an expression of their fear
\nthat if they went home with the agreement, it could endanger
\ntheir lives.<\/p>\n
\"We in the local Muslim Student Association (HMI) underline
\nthat if we (unilaterally) sign up to the agreement then we could
\nbe rejected by our members,\" local HMI chief Hatab Kilbaren said
\nat the forum.<\/p>\n
The dialog also concluded that the conflict erupted because
\nMaluku people forgot their traditional values and due to the
\npresence of outside intervention.<\/p>\n
There was no elaboration as to what form this outside
\nintervention took.<\/p>\n
During the dialog, which was organized by the Go-East
\nInstitute, the participants were divided into six groups
\naccording to their areas and each group discussed the follow-up
\nactions that were needed to rehabilitate the province.<\/p>\n
The rebuilding of all places of worship and enhanced
\ncooperation between the religions should also be priorities so as
\nto remove the trauma caused by the conflicts, along with the
\nrehabilitation of educational facilities for the youth, the
\nmeeting concluded. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maluku-dialog-ends-with-peace-commitment-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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