Ambonese to pray for peace in mass event
Ambonese to pray for peace in mass event
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Residents in ravaged Ambon will hold a
massive prayer session to commemorate the 425th anniversary of
the city on Sept. 7, hoping for a better and peaceful life.
At least 1,000 people from various religious groups, mostly
from warring Christian and Muslim sides, would take part in the
event, titled Ambon Berdoa (Ambon Prays), at Merdeka Park in
Ambon, Mayor Chris Tanasale said on Friday.
"The event is being jointly arranged by local community and
religious leaders in the hope that no more violence will take
place during this cooling off period and that we can start
rebuilding," Chris said.
Students and children from both sides would take part in a
reconciliation parade, he said.
"We'll pray for those who have been separated from their
families, those living in refugee camps and the innocent people
who have been killed," he said.
Tight security would be in place to avoid disputes, he said.
Civil emergency administrator Maluku Governor Saleh
Latuconsina together with related authorities will jointly lead
the event.
The venue is at the 15,000-square-meter Merdeka Park, which is
part of the Victoria fortress compound in downtown Ambon, built
during the Dutch colonial era.
The park, considered by locals as "neutral turf", is located
across from the gubernatorial office and surrounded by military
compounds, such as the headquarters of the 733 Masariku Infantry
Battalion.
In a related development, Governor Latuconsina and Maluku
Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani left Ambon for Jakarta on
Friday to attend an emergency briefing with President Abdurrahman
Wahid.
"It's probably about the evaluation of the civil emergency in
Maluku, because it's due to end on Sept. 23, and the overall
security condition," Latuconsina said at Pattimura Airport,
adding that both of them would be return on Monday.
Separately, provincial council Speaker Etty Sahuburua urged
that the civil emergency status be extended.
"Open conflicts here are decreasing; if necessary the (civil
emergency) must be extended," Sahuburua said on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Navy seized 20 detonators along with several
rounds of ammunition, such as 5.56 mm bullets and triggering
devices, from the KM Danau Rana in the waters off Teluk Ambon
Baguala, civil emergency spokesman Col. Adi Mulyanto said on
Friday.
"The ship was surrounded on Wednesday as the captain refused
to anchor at Slamet Riyadi Port or Halong Naval Base for a search
by a routine patrol," Adi said, adding that the captain of the
ship was being questioned while all 300 passengers, after a
thorough search, were free to leave.
On Thursday, Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. I Made
Yasa said the military was considering the opening of a military
district (Kodim) for two new regencies of Buru and Maluku
Tenggara Barat in Maluku province.(49/edt)