Mega comes bearing gifts as election runoff nears<\/p>\n
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri visited Palu, the capital of
\nCentral Sulawesi province, on Tuesday, with the presidential
\nelection runoff now just two weeks away.<\/p>\n
She inaugurated several projects in the province during her
\none-day visit, but fell short of making a much-awaited statement
\non the prolonged sectarian conflict in Poso regency, which is
\nlocated only some one hundred kilometers from Palu.<\/p>\n
In an impromptu speech in Palu, the President only called on
\npeople in Palu to preserve order and security ahead of election
\nrunoff on September 20, when she will face a tough challenge in
\nthe personage of Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who was accompanied by Minister of Settlement and
\nRegional Infrastructure Soenarno during the visit, also urged
\npeople in the city to protect the environment.<\/p>\n
It was Megawati's second visit to Palu after a previous visit
\nto the city in 2002.<\/p>\n
Palu has been badly affected by the sectarian conflict in
\nPoso, which broke out in 2000. The conflict claimed the lives of
\nsome 2,000 Muslims and Christians, and largely subsided two years
\nlater after a government-sponsored peace pact.<\/p>\n
However, sporadic attacks are still happening in Poso and
\nPalu, claiming some lives and fueling fears of further violence
\namong Palu and Poso residents.<\/p>\n
The recent killings of a Christian clergywoman and a senior
\nprosecutor were two clear signs that the sectarian conflict in
\nthe area is far from over, and also reveal the apparent inability
\nof the government to address the security problem.<\/p>\n
Projects worth a total of Rp 265.663 billion (US$28 million)
\nwere inaugurated by Megawati during her visit to Palu. The
\nprojects included a clean water project, a project to renovate
\nthe road between Taripa and Tomata in Morowali regency, an
\nirrigation project in the same regency, and the construction of
\nrefugee camps in Morowali and Poso regencies.<\/p>\n
Besides inaugurating the projects in her capacity as
\nPresident, Megawati also handed over billions of rupiah in
\ngrants, soft loans and scholarships to people and students in
\nCentral Sulawesi province.<\/p>\n
This included scholarships funded by the state pawnshop
\ncompany, PT Pegadaian, and state social insurance company PT
\nJamsostek.<\/p>\n
After inaugurating the projects and handing over grants, soft
\nloans and scholarships, Megawati formally opened the Al-Khairaat
\nIslamic Boarding School National Meeting at a separate location
\nin Palu. In her speech, Megawati promised that she would help
\nfacilitate the opening of a school of medicine at Al-Khairat
\nIslamic University in the city.<\/p>\n
The Al-Khairaat Muslim organization was established in 1930
\nand it now runs a university, 1,557 Islamic elementary schools,
\n35 Islamic boarding schools, three polyclinics and dozens of
\nother business units. The organization boasts millions of
\nfollowers in the eastern part of Indonesia.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-comes-bearing-gifts-as-election-runoff-nears-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}