'Baku Bae' team meets Maluku governor

'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)