Avoid agitation and remain calm: Latuconsina
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Civil emergency executor Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina urged residents to remain alert and guard against provocation, following reports of intensified friction toward both Christian and Muslim communities.
"Rampant provocation trying to incite another outbreak of violence is taking place. It is conducted systematically, by individuals or groups who are itching to set off riots," Latuconsina said.
Without elaborating further, he said these persons had been identified.
Gunfire and explosions have occurred sporadically here in the past few weeks following a month of relative calm.
Underground radio stations airing propaganda, provocative news and misleading reports have also created uneasiness and tension among residents.
"I have ordered Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani and Pattimura Military commander Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa to take stern action against those illegal radio networks spreading antagonistic reports," Latuconsina told journalists.
"They'd better stop or else coercive measures will be taken, especially the Suara Perjuangan Muslim Maluku (The Voice of Maluku Muslim Struggle) radio. They have been warned and the case is being processed," he said.
Separately, General I Made Yasa claimed that conditions in the neighboring North Maluku province had steadily calmed to the point that it was now conducive to a "possible lifting of the civil emergency status in the province."
"The situation has been relatively calm in the past two months and if the North Maluku Governor (Muchyi Effendi) is brave enough to scrap the status, that will be fine with me," Made Yasa told journalists on Tuesday.
He said that many groups of refugees who fled riots in North Maluku have been repatriated back to their villages in the regencies of Tobelo, Galela and Malifut.
"This process can hopefully speed up the rehabilitation process so that we can later withdraw our troops from there," he said.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government has agreed to extend emergency grant assistance totaling US$1 million. The funds will be distributed to the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to help alleviate the plight of people displaced from Maluku and North Maluku, a statement from the Japanese embassy said on Wednesday.
Two years of conflict in the Malukus have resulted in the displacement of some 440,000 people in Maluku and North Maluku, while forcing another 120,000 to seek refuge in other provinces.
The United Nations issued in November a consolidated inter- agency appeal for assistance. The ICRC also issued a similar appeal in December.
The latest Japanese government humanitarian assistance was in response to these appeals.
In April, Japan also extended $1 million to support the emergency food assistance operation of the World Food Programme. (edt/49)