Sulawesi governors sign Poso peace deal<\/p>\n
TENTENA, Central Sulawesi (JP): Sulawesi governors signed a
\npeace accord for Poso here on Sunday with recommendations for
\nsecurity guarantees for refugees, psychological and
\ninfrastructural rehabilitation and fair law enforcement.<\/p>\n
South Sulawesi governor HZB Palaguna, the initiator of the
\nmeeting, said that President Abdurrahman Wahid could use this
\n'Sulawesi solidarity' agreement as an example for reconciliation
\nand peace efforts in other 'hot spots' around the country.<\/p>\n
Palaguna did not reveal the detailed mechanisms for the
\nimplementation of the recommendations.<\/p>\n
Three governors were in attendance at the meeting-- North
\nSulawesi Governor A.J. Sondakh, HZM Palaguna and Central Sulawesi
\nGovernor GB. Paliudju. Southeast Sulawesi Governor Laode
\nKaimuddin, who was due to attend, failed to appear. It is unclear
\nwhether he was represented by his deputy.<\/p>\n
Religious and youth leaders as well as local figures from the
\nfour provinces were also invited to the meeting, which was held
\nat the Pambug Indah Hotel, Tentena, some 55 kilometers south of
\nPoso.<\/p>\n
The meeting was the third after a first meeting in Makassar
\nand a second in Manado, North Sulawesi in May.<\/p>\n
The three governors voiced their optimism that the deal would
\nprogressively extinguish the sectarian conflict in Poso.<\/p>\n
A.J. Sondakh expressed his optimism that the deal would
\naccelerate the reconciliation process and the improvement of
\nsecurity in clash-torn Poso, \"... so that all the refugees could
\nreturn home soon.\"<\/p>\n
According to Palaguna, the meeting is a strong indication that
\nall Sulawesi people were determined to help curb the clashes.<\/p>\n
The governors had earlier pledged to help Central Sulawesi
\nrestore its economy by, among other things, providing special
\naid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Paliudju said that the security guarantees
\nmentioned in the deal would make possible the recovery of the
\nlocal economy. \"We will seriously put into effect what we have
\njust signed.\"<\/p>\n
The first fracas broke out in Poso last year. The latest
\ndisturbances erupted on May 23 this year, with at least 300
\npeople killed and 4,000 buildings destroyed.<\/p>\n
There are now around 60,000 Poso refugees living in various
\ncamps located in separate parts of Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Pessimism<\/p>\n
For most of the refugees, the agreement was merely a political
\nmove among the members of the 'elite'.<\/p>\n
Rev. Rinaldy Damanik of the Sulawesi Christian Church Crisis
\nControl Center said that the meeting would not be able to settle
\nthe crisis \"as long as it (the meeting) does not involve the
\nactors who participated in the fray. We were involved in the
\nfighting, but we are now just spectators at the meeting.\"<\/p>\n
He added that the security of the refugees had yet to be
\nguaranteed by the inhabitants should they return home. \"Please
\ndon't force them (the refugees) to return to their homeland for
\nthe time being.\"<\/p>\n
Hundreds of refugees had earlier expressed their skepticism.<\/p>\n
Refugees living in several camps in the regency of Luwu Utara,
\nSouth Sulawesi province said that the deal reached during the
\nmeeting could not put an end to their anger following the killing
\nof their relatives during the disturbances.<\/p>\n
\"We are not sure that the meeting can guarantee security and
\nassuage our trauma and desire for revenge,\" Sri Hartati, 27, told
\nThe Jakarta Post in Mangkutana on Friday. She and her family are
\nnow living in a camp in Wonorejo, Massamba district, South
\nSulawesi.<\/p>\n
\"How can I return to Poso if all that I had there has been
\ndestroyed by our (former) neighbors,\" Sri Hartati said.<\/p>\n
Another refugee, Abdurrahman, 17, said it was understandable
\nthat the refugees were doubtful about post-riot security
\nconditions.<\/p>\n
Imam Muhajir, a Massamba district resident whose house has
\nbeen used to house the refugees, said; \"If the meeting is
\nunfruitful, another sectarian clash will erupt soon.\" (27\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sulawesi-governors-sign-poso-peace-deal-1447893297",
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