Poso leaders bury hatchets for peace before Gus Dur<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of warring Muslim and Christian
\ncommunities from 15 districts in the Central Sulawesi town of
\nPoso buried a buffalo head on Tuesday in a symbolic gesture of
\nburying their hatchets and putting differences aside in order to
\nlive in peace.<\/p>\n
The traditional ceremony, witnessed by President \"Gus Dur\"
\nAbdurrahman Wahid, who flew in specially for the occasion, marked
\nthe end to bloody fighting between the communities going back to
\nthe 1980s, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
The President also received a document signed by the 15
\nleaders pledging to work to promote peace in the area.<\/p>\n
Christians and Muslims in the area have engaged in recurrent
\narmed battles for decades.<\/p>\n
Their conflicts escalated in the last two years, leaving
\nhundreds of people dead and sending thousands of people fleeing
\nto towns in all four Sulawesi provinces.<\/p>\n
Poso Regent Abdul Muin Pusadan asked President Abdurrahman for
\nmassive cash assistance from the central government to help with
\na Rp 67 billion ($8.17 million) program to rebuild houses and
\npublic facilities which were damaged in the conflicts.<\/p>\n
\"The local administration could only come up with Rp 7 billion
\nfor the program. We hope the remainder of the money will come
\nfrom the central government,\" Pusadan said.<\/p>\n
Central Sulawesi Governor H.B. Paliudju said the peace
\nagreement was brokered by a special team of the Poso
\nadministration and supported by the governors in South Sulawesi,
\nNorth Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
The four governors met in Poso early this month to search for
\na solution without resorting to central government intervention.<\/p>\n
\"Following the meeting of the community leaders, we hoped
\npeople would return (from the refugee camps) and promote
\ntraditional values under Sintuwu Maroso,\" Paliudju said referring
\nto the local terms for \"cooperation and mutual help.\"<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman in his speech to the community leaders
\nhailed their decision to resort to a cultural approach to end
\ntheir conflicts.<\/p>\n
\"I'm very happy to witness the agreement read by traditional
\nleaders. It underlines the importance of peace,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman arrived in Poso to a Pekasiwia, a colorful
\ntraditional welcoming ceremony of the ethnic Pamona people who
\nlive around Poso lake.<\/p>\n
The President was presented with a chicken egg, a white hen
\nand unfermented palm water at the ceremony watched by other local
\ntribes such as Tajo, Lore, Bungku and Bare'e.<\/p>\n
The only other Indonesian president to visit Poso was
\nSukarno in 1952, according to Antara.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur said cultural aspects were important in any effort to
\nresolve conflicts in a nation as diverse as Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He admitted that the nation has neglected the existence of
\nmany cultures in the past. \"We have focused too much on the
\nJavanese culture at the expense of the others,\" said the
\nPresident, who hails from East Java.<\/p>\n
He cited a study by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
\n(LIPI) which said the nation should pay special attention to the
\npromotion of cultures of 14 ethnic groups across the country.<\/p>\n
\"It's a precious experience learning the various cultures. We
\nend up appreciating even more to live as one nation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
During his whirlwind visit to Poso, the President was
\naccompanied by First Lady Sinta Nuriyah, Indonesian Military
\nChief Adm. Widodo A.S., National Police Chief Gen. Rusdihardjo
\nand Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja. (jun)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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