Civil emergency needed in Maluku

Civil emergency needed in Maluku

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. I
Made Yasa said on Wednesday it was necessary to maintain the
civil emergency status in some areas of Maluku.

"The condition is relatively calm and things have begun to
return to normal in Maluku, but still there are indications
conflicts may erupt at any time," Yasa said during a visit to the
733/Masariku Airborne Unit in Ambon on Wednesday.

"Therefore, (the civil emergency authorities in Maluku) are
proposing the civil emergency be limited to Ambon island and the
Seram islands, while in the relatively calmer areas of Tual and
Southeast Maluku we can lower the status to that of civil order,"
the general said.

"Under civil order, the police will take on a larger role and
the Indonesian Military will support them. With its new paradigm,
the military will not play too large a role in public affairs,"
Yasa said.

He said the proposal was submitted to Coordinating Minister
for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono when the Maluku civil emergency authorities visited
Jakarta last week.

Separately, Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina said the central
government would discuss the proposal with the House of
Representatives.

When asked about a recent flare-up of violence in Kase village
on Buru island, Yasa said he had reviewed the security deployment
in the area in response to a demand from 12 Seram traditional
leaders for additional troops to protect the village.(49/edt)