'Baku Bae' team meets Maluku governor
AMBON, Maluku (JP): The Maluku's Baku Bae reconciliation team met with Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina here on Monday in an effort to establish a neutral turf for the two warring camps and speed up the recovery process in the riot-torn province.
"We will start by establishing a peace zone in Nania village and Pohon Pule area," Baku Bae facilitator Ichsan Malik of the University of Indonesia's School of Social Sciences said after meeting with Latuconsina, who is also the civil emergency ruler in Maluku.
"We hope to start economic activities in the area by setting up a joint traditional market which will be run together by the Muslims and the Christians," Ichsan said, accompanied by team member Karlina Leksono.
The team will be in Maluku until March 18.
"Besides the neutral zones, we are also working on the opening of the land routes that have been closed during conflicts and the economic recovery in the area.
"Hopefully, all road access in Ambon island will eventually be opened to the public regardless of their religion," he said.
Latuconsina further expressed support over the effort, but cautiously warned that "all activities must be coordinated with the existing security authorities to avoid possible disputes".
The team is also intent on pushing for the restoration of law and order in the area through workshops set up for grassroots leaders, teachers and common people.
"We are also working on how to deal with refugees," Ichsan said.
The Baku Bae reconciliation team has conducted a series of road shows involving informal and formal leaders of both warring camps in the cities of Denpasar, Yogyakarta and Makassar.
The efforts will also involve journalists from both Muslim and Christian camps that have been separated due to the protracted conflict in the Malukus that has been going on for over two years.
"Baku Bae also involves Raja-Raja (village chiefs) from both Muslim and Christian villages," he said.
Among the Raja attending the Monday session were Mahfud Nukuhehe from the predominantly-Muslim Seith village in Leihitu district of Ambon island and the predominantly-Christian Negri Paso village chief in Teluk Ambon Baguala, Mrs. Maitimu.
"Although the Maluku people must resolve their own disputes, there needs to be a motivational factor to achieve this goal... such as this activity and not just by showering funds to certain groups," he said.
Meanwhile, some 400 local leaders of the Malukus left on Monday for a national dialog on local culture empowerment and rehabilitation in Tual, Southeast Maluku regency.
The entourage boarded the KM Rinjani ship from Yos Sudarso Port and was sent off by Governor Latuconsina.
The dialog is slated to take place from March 14 to March 17, featuring Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Governor of Maluku, Maluku Council Speaker M.J. Papilaya, the sultan of Ternate Mudafar Sjah and several other scholars such as Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, Ignas Kleden and Winarno Surakhmad. (edt/49)