Deadline for rift in Poso unrealistic

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Central Sulawesi Governor Aminuddin Ponulele said on Saturday that the deadline set by the Muslim Defense Lawyers Team (TPM) and the Muslim Paralegals Association (SPM) for the settlement of the Poso conflict was unrealistic.

Aminuddin made the remark here in response to recent TPM and SPM statements that gave a two-month time limit to the Central Sulawesi administration for the settlement of the Poso case.

TPM and SPM threatened to sue the Central Sulawesi administration and bring the case to the human rights court if the provincial administration failed to settle the conflict within two months.

The governor said the problem could be solved in stages by making peaceful approaches, adding that the provincial administration was still preparing social, customary, religious and other approaches to create peaceful conditions in Poso.

The approaches ought to be made in stages, followed by an evaluation to find out the positive results and the weaknesses, according to Aminuddin. "It is impossible, therefore, to settle the case in a short time," he added.

The governor called on all in Central Sulawesi to help the provincial administration seek a peaceful solution to the protracted conflict in Poso, which had claimed many victims, instead of merely setting a deadline or uttering threats.