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)