Religious leaders visit Maluku on peace mission<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Makassar\/Cirebon<\/p>\n
A group of 11 national religious leaders arrived in Ambon on
\nMonday afternoon for a peace mission aimed at boosting an accord
\nto end the three-year sectarian conflict in the Maluku islands.<\/p>\n
The two-day visit comes 12 days after a powerful bomb rocked
\nthe eastern city on April 3, killing at least seven people and
\ninjuring more than 50 others.<\/p>\n
The blast threatened the peace pact signed by Muslim and
\nChristian leaders on Feb. 12 to end the conflict in the Malukus.<\/p>\n
The mission, which earlier had been postponed because local
\nofficials were not prepared to receive the participants, is seen
\nas crucial in strengthening efforts to promote the peace accord.<\/p>\n
The members of the mission will meet with local Muslim and
\nChristian leaders on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The delegates include KH Hasyim Muzadi, the chairman of the
\nnation's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, the
\nsecretary-general of the Muhammadiyah Muslim organization,
\nGoodwil Zubir, and noted Muslim intellectual Solahuddin Wahid.<\/p>\n
Bishops Council of Indonesia chairman Rev. Ismartono,
\nIndonesian Communion of Churches leader A. A. Yemangoe and
\nMinistry of Religious Affairs secretary general Faisal Ismail are
\nalso part of the peace mission.<\/p>\n
The visiting religious leaders are accompanied by Syahrul
\nUjud, a deputy to Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare Jusuf
\nKalla, who brokered the Maluku peace talks.<\/p>\n
Muzadi said the national delegation would help disseminate the
\ndetails of the peace agreement reached in the Malino hill resort
\nin South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
During the visit, he said, the religious leaders would \"hear
\nthe conscience of the Maluku people, share opinions with them and
\ndraw up formulations to achieve peace\" in the war-torn islands.<\/p>\n
\"The conflict in Maluku is a national tragedy. Therefore, all
\nIndonesians should support the efforts to promote peace,\" Muzadi
\ntold journalists during a stopover in Makassar, South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
\"We hope our arrival in Ambon will add weight to the peace
\nefforts. If this is still not effective, we will do it again,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Despite national and international backing of the peace deal,
\nit has yet to win full acceptance in Maluku, with some Muslim and
\nChristian militias, as well as a local separatist group, opposed
\nto the accord.<\/p>\n
Bishops Council of Indonesia chairman Rev. Ismartono said the
\nmost important step in restoring peace in Maluku was stringently
\nenforcing the law against those breaking the peace deal.<\/p>\n
\"The legal process must proceed unequivocally. So if any party
\nis found violating the peace agreement, they must face the law,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Similar sentiments were expressed by Yemangoe, who said law
\nenforcement was the most crucial factor in maintaining peace and
\nsecurity in Maluku.<\/p>\n
He said stern action must be taken against any agitators,
\nparticularly those behind the recent bombing in Ambon, who are
\nstill at large.<\/p>\n
\"The law must be upheld in all circumstances if the state is
\nto maintain its authority,\" Yemangoe asserted.<\/p>\n
Syahrul Ujud said the 11-member peace mission would assist the
\nMaluku authorities and people in \"socializing the Malino
\nagreement\" to end the conflict in the islands, which has left
\nsome 6,000 people dead and forced a half million others to flee
\ntheir homes since erupting on Jan. 19, 1999.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a battalion of at least 682 soldiers from West
\nJava's Siliwangi Military Command departed from the Cirebon Port
\nfor Ambon on Monday. They are being deployed to help secure the
\nMalino peace pact.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-leaders-visit-maluku-on-peace-mission-1447893297",
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