Maluku peace talks draw optimism<\/p>\n
Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar<\/p>\n
Representatives from both of Maluku's warring factions flew
\nhome on Thursday after meeting separately with government
\nnegotiators in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, having
\nagreed to take part in peace talks next week.<\/p>\n
The talks will be held on Feb. 5 and Feb. 7 at the Makassar's
\nhill resort of Malino in an effort to stop three years of
\nsectarian fighting in the Maluku Islands that has left some 6,000
\npeople dead and many more homeless.<\/p>\n
The mediators, including Coordinating Minister for People's
\nWelfare Jusuf Kalla, met separately with both Christian and
\nMuslim factions late Wednesday at different hotels in Makassar to
\nlay the groundwork for the upcoming formal peace talks.<\/p>\n
After a closed-door meeting with representatives from the
\nChristian side, Kalla expressed optimism that the feuding groups
\nwill be able to settle their differences at the same table.<\/p>\n
\"We should all be optimistic, as previous informal meetings,
\nboth here and in Ambon, have yielded significant progress,\" he
\ntold reporters on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
The senior minister said that the rival groups have achieved a
\nmutual understanding about how to resolve their problems.<\/p>\n
\"Everything will run smoothly,\" he added. The two sides \"have
\ndisplayed positive responses by way of wanting to achieve peace
\nin Maluku.\"<\/p>\n
Kalla declined to disclose details of the outcome of
\nWednesday's talks. Other participants, including Maluku Governor
\nSaleh Latuconsina and South Sulawesi Governor H.Z.B. Palaguna
\nwere also silent on the matter.<\/p>\n
However, one source said that both camps agreed to not to view
\nthe conflict as a religious one \"so that the focus of the
\nsolution will be on social problems\" from the fighting.<\/p>\n
Both groups demanded increased security enforcement and proper
\nresettlement for refugees, the source added.<\/p>\n
Also present at Wednesday's meeting were Kalla's deputy in
\ncharge of health and environment affairs, Farid Husain, and Hamid
\nAwaludin, a member of the General Election Commission (KPU).<\/p>\n
The delegates from the warring sides will fly back to Makassar
\non Feb. 4 to attend the formal peace talks in Malino after
\ndisclosing the outcome of the most recent meetings.<\/p>\n
At the Malino dialogue, each group will be represented by 35
\ndelegates.<\/p>\n
The Muslim faction will be led by Abdul Wahab Polpoke and
\nThamrin Eli, while the Christian group will be chaired by Rev.
\nMandagi, and Rev. Broery Hendrik.<\/p>\n
\"The main task of the delegates now is to socialize the common
\nground to their respective followers in preparation for peace
\nnegotiations in Malino,\" Kalla said.<\/p>\n
Governor Latuconsina said that the talks can run smoothly
\nshould the people in the Malukus lend their support to the peace
\nprocess by creating a conducive atmosphere.<\/p>\n
He said that he was pleased by the undisclosed results of the
\nlatest meetings with the two camps, and asked that the media not
\ninflame feelings that might lead to further conflict.<\/p>\n
Christian and Muslim leaders had also met with Kalla and chief
\nsecurity minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the Maluku capital
\nof Ambon during their visit there on Jan. 25 and 26.<\/p>\n
Fighting first broke out in Ambon following a small, personal
\ndispute on Jan. 19, 1999.<\/p>\n
Malino successfully hosted similar peace talks between Muslim
\nand Christian leaders from Poso district of Central Sulawesi
\nprovince in December, also under stewardship of Minister Kalla.<\/p>\n
The talks ended with an agreement to halt more than two years
\nof communal bloodshed there that has left some 2,000 people dead.<\/p>\n
On Thursday morning, as the delegates flew home to Ambon, a
\nfresh gun battle erupted in the city, leaving at least one person
\nseriously wounded.<\/p>\n
Zeth Souhaka, 45, was shot in the legs and chest at Soya
\nvillage in Sirimau subdistrict, Ambon. He has been listed as
\nbeing in critical condition at the Haulussy General Hospital.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, the body of 27-year old Jecky Pormas was
\nfound in the Wairisal river at Galala village on Tuesday. He had
\nbeen stabbed to death.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maluku-peace-talks-draw-optimism-1447893297",
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