Ambon braces for President, Vice President's visit
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela and Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina on Saturday made final preparations for Sunday's visit of President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Security was of paramount concern in the riot-torn city and much of the preparations focused on getting the nation's leaders from the airport to Ambon.
At a glance it seemed as if the President and Vice President would be arriving in a war zone.
The conventional land route from Pattimura Airport to Ambon was ruled out because of fears that parts of the road would still be blocked off.
As a result, once Abdurrahman and Megawati arrive in separate airplanes at the airport, they will be taken to nearby Pertamina Port.
From there they will board a Navy transport ship for a 15- minute ride across the bay to Yos Sudarso Port in Ambon.
Heavily guarded by marines and soldiers from the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), the two leaders will then be escorted to the governor's office.
"It's a bit of a miracle for us to receive our two leaders. I admit that in the beginning, I was really hesitant about the preparedness of our security to receive them," the governor said here on Saturday.
Residents said security in the city had seen a marked improvement recently. However, the thoroughfares and the city's main market of Mardika remain virtually deserted.
Ambon and the surrounding areas have been the scene of nearly continuous violence since the beginning of the year. The number of casualties is uncertain, but it is estimated that upwards of 1,000 people have been killed.
Religious and ethnic tensions in the territory remain divisive, seemingly dismissing any hope of quickly breaking the cycle of violence.
Governor Latuconsina said that during a closed-door meeting with Abdurrahman and Megawati, leaders of the rival factions would make 10 demands on the government.
These demands will reportedly include bringing to trial military and police personnel alleged to have violated human rights and dismissing officials who incited violence in the province.
The community leaders are also expected to call on the government to rebuild houses for about 80,000 refugees who lost their homes during the unrest and to provide financial assistance for victims of the violence.
Latuconsina admitted it would be difficult to restore peace and order in the territory because people had a tendency to seek revenge for relatives killed in the violence.
"But I hope the visit of the President and Vice President and the spirit of Christmas and Idul Fitri will create a new atmosphere," he said.
The President is due to return to Jakarta on Sunday afternoon. The Vice President will continue on to Biak, Irian Jaya, on Monday. From there she will fly to Ternate, North Maluku, on Tuesday morning before going to Manado, North Sulawesi. (prb/50)