Rival Maluku groups sign peace accord<\/p>\n
Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Malino<\/p>\n
Under the government's mediation, the two delegations of opposing
\nfactions, Muslims and Christians, signed a peace agreement that
\nmay end the three-year sectarian conflict that has claimed more
\nthan 6,000 lives and displaced some 700,000 people.<\/p>\n
The peace accord containing 11 main points was signed by the
\ntwo delegations' 70 members at 3:05 p.m. local time on the second
\nday of their two-day peace talks held in Malino, some 70
\nkilometers northeast of the South Sulawesi provincial capital of
\nMakassar on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Both government officials and observers appeared satisfied
\nwhen the two groups of delegates shook hands after signing the
\naccord and began to sing the national anthem Padamu Negri (for
\nyou, my country).<\/p>\n
The nine mediators representing the government in the peace
\ntalks were Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
\nAffairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for
\nPeople's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina,
\nSouth Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna, chief of the Pattimura
\nMilitary Command supervising Maluku and North Maluku Brig. Gen.
\nMustopo, National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, Ambon Mayor
\nMax Papilaya, Maluku Provincial Police Chief Brig. Gen. Sunarko,
\nMaluku Legislature Chairman Z. Sahuburua and Maluku Deputy
\nGovernor Paula B. Renyaan.<\/p>\n
In addition to the mediators, 19 figures representing numerous
\ngroups who attended the meeting as observers, also witnessed the
\nsigning of the peace deal.<\/p>\n
According to the accord, the two sides agreed to end the
\nconflict that erupted on Jan. 19, 1999 and to uphold the law in
\nendeavors to create peace in the violence-torn province.<\/p>\n
Minister Kalla hailed the peace agreement, saying: \"This a
\nprogressive step towards creating a peaceful situation in Maluku
\nand allowing the people in the province to put this prolonged
\ncrisis behind them. It is binding not only for the two warring
\nfactions but also for other sides, including the government,
\nmilitary, police and religion-based groups.\"<\/p>\n
Thamrin Ely, leader of the Muslim delegates, said he would now
\nbe committed to complying with the peace accord, but with one
\npossible exception.<\/p>\n
\"Yes, we are all committed to implementing the peace deal,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added, however, that the Muslims in Maluku did not want the
\nMaluku administration to expel Laskar Jihad -- the Java-based
\nparamilitary troops -- by force.<\/p>\n
\"They should be allowed to stay in Maluku as long as they do
\nnot violate the law because they are also Indonesian citizens,\"
\nhe told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Tonny Paraile, leader of the Christian delegation, said the
\ntwo sides must be accountable for their own members or supporters
\nfound guilty of violating the law and the peace accord.<\/p>\n
\"We are optimistic the two sides will be able to end the
\nconflict and create peace,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Amboina Bishop Mgr. P.C. Mandagi, a member of the Christian
\ndelegation, said there were no other alternatives for the two
\nsides but to end the conflict and work together to create peace.<\/p>\n
\"The government should play its role as a fair judge to
\nsupervise the implementation of the peace agreement,\" he said.<\/p>\n
From Washington, the United States government welcomed the
\npeace agreement to end the sectarian bloodshed.<\/p>\n
\"Such dialog is key to resolving the conflict in Maluku,\"
\nState Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\"These talks are an important step in Indonesia's efforts to
\nend violence, re-establish the rule of law and provide for
\nreconstruction in the troubled province,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The United States has provided nearly six million dollars in
\nassistance to victims on both sides of the conflict and will
\ncontinue that support for reconstruction and reconciliation,
\nBoucher said.<\/p>\n
The peace talks began on Monday at a neutral venue in the hill
\nresort of Malino.<\/p>\n
Unrest broke out in Ambon, the capital of the Malukus,
\nfollowing a trivial dispute in January 1999. Apart from some
\n6,000 deaths, the conflict has forced more than half a million
\npeople from their homes. Related story on Page 2<\/p>\n
In the pact, the two sides agree to end all conflict, enforce the
\nlaw equally, reject separatist movements, accept the presence of
\nmigrants, reject the presence of all militias, including Laskar
\nJihad, set up an investigation team, return all the displaced
\npeople, rehabilitate all damaged assets with government aid, ask
\nsecurity authorities to remain neutral and normalize education
\nactivities at Pattimura University.<\/p>",
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