Peace beginning to return to Poso<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has introduced a series of short-term programs
\nto restore peace and order in the strife-torn region of Poso,
\nCentral Sulawesi, to give backing to last week's Malino peace
\naccord aimed at ending the prolonged conflict in the area, an
\nofficial said.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla said on
\nWednesday that the six-month programs, scheduled to commence next
\nmonth, included disarming warring locals, rehabilitating and
\nrebuilding destroyed homes, schools and places of worship and
\nremove outsiders who had entered the area during the conflicts.<\/p>\n
He said the government and security officers had started to
\npublicize the contents of the government-initiated Malino
\ndeclaration, which was signed on Dec. 20.<\/p>\n
"All the programs are focused on allowing the displaced
\nresidents to return home in peace," Jusuf told a media briefing
\nafter a two-hour coordination meeting on the Poso issue at his
\noffice.<\/p>\n
He added that several Cabinet ministers would visit the area
\non Jan. 6 and 7 as the programs began.<\/p>\n
Among those taking part in the meeting were Minister of Home
\nAffairs Hari Sabarno, National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar,
\nMinister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah, Minister of Health
\nAchmad Sujudi, Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fajar
\nand Secretary of Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
\nAffairs Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi and territorial assistant to the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) chief of general affairs Maj. Gen. Sang
\nNyoman Suwisma.<\/p>\n
The government has allocated Rp 100 billion (US$10 million),
\nwhich consists of Rp 4 million in the form of building materials
\nand Rp 1 million in cash for each local family to help them
\nrebuild their homes and another Rp 2 million in donations to
\nrelatives of each of the almost 1,000 people killed in the
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
Two battalions of troops and three other battalions from the
\npolice's mobile brigade have been deployed to the area.<\/p>\n
Da'i Bachtiar said the calm that had prevailed during the
\nholiday season following the signing of the Malino declaration
\nproved that peace had been achieved in Poso.<\/p>\n
"The people actually want to end the conflict, which has
\nentered its third year. The police have been deployed there to
\nmaintain security and to uphold the law while publicizing the
\npeace accord," he said.<\/p>\n
Commenting on reports that the presence of outsiders,
\nincluding members of the hardliner Jihad Force, had escalated the
\nconflict, Jusuf said that the law on demography allowed citizens
\nto travel to all parts of the country.<\/p>\n
"Moreover the Jihad Force arrived in Poso in June 2001, or two
\nyears after the conflict broke out in October 1998. They were
\nthere to assist the locals and were not connected with the
\nviolence. However, all outsiders must now return home," he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/peace-beginning-to-return-to-poso-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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