Ex-ministers to be queried over Ambon clashes

JAKARTA (JP): A House of Representatives working commission will question Gen. Wiranto and two other former Cabinet ministers next week over persistent riots in Maluku.

"We plan to question the former ministers from Dec. 14 to Dec. 17," commission chairman I Nyoman Gunawan said on Friday.

Apart from Wiranto, who is currently coordinating minister for political affairs and security, the commission will also question Wiranto's predecessor Feisal Tanjung and religious affairs minister Malik Fadjar.

Nyoman from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina would also be questioned over the continual ethnic and religious clashes.

The commission also asked the government to be included in the delegation when President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri visit Ambon on Sunday.

Clashes in the usually peaceful Maluku has shaken the area since the beginning of the year. Some 1,000 people have died in the chain of violence.

Border

Most people seem to be at a loss at explaining the violence, and measures to curtail the clashes so far have only sparked more controversy.

One proposal which has met strong resistance is establishing a demarcation line which would separate Muslim and Christian communities.

The commission's secretary Sayuti Lahawari of the Masyumi Islamic Party and legislator Ahmad Sumargono from the Crescent Star Party are among those who have advocated physical separation of the two communities.

"But separation would be just in districts in Ambon, not in North Maluku and South Maluku," Sayuti remarked here on Friday.

But House Deputy Speaker for political affairs and security Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno and Amidhan from the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) has strongly rejected the idea.

Amidhan dismissed the proposal on Friday, saying such a stopgap remedy would not resolve the overall tension there.

"They are already separated by religion and now they are going to be separated by area, it would not be good for the future," Amidhan told reporters.

He argued that reconciliation between religious leaders was the only permanent solution.

"(However) Before reaching reconciliation the Indonesian Military (TNI) should first bring law and order to the area," he said after presenting donations to refugees from Maluku and East Timor.

"It is ghastly to think that if the clashes continue until Idul Fitri it would mean the clashes would have lasted the whole Muslim Year," he remarked, noting that the communal clashes in the province broke out on the second day of Idul Fitri last January.

The head of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) crisis center, Rev. Leonard Halle, supported Amidhan's view.

"I agree that a demarcation line would only make the situation more difficult," Leonard said.

He stressed that dialog between religious leaders was a more plausible means of solving the core issue of the disputes.

President

Meanwhile in Ambon, an air of expectancy prevailed as people waited for Sunday's arrival of President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Many are hoping that it will be a key moment marking the end of hatred and the start of peace.

But the calm surroundings were not an indication of easing tension.

Officials in Ambon point out that Abuddurahman and Megawati may have to use a Kakap warship to transport them from the Pertamina port, about 30 kilometers outside Ambon, to Yos Sudarso Port in Ambon. From there they will continue on to Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina's office in the city.

Many parts of the road from Pattimura Airport to the governor's office are blocked by local residents.

Sylvia Hilaitupa, 67, who was forced to flee from her home in Hila village, hoped that a new beginning would commence as of Sunday.

"I just want to go home. I hope the two leaders will be able to create peace here. I don't know why people want to kill each other when we all have the same God," the Christian grandmother told The Jakarta Post while queuing to get her monthly ration at a refugees camp.

Sylivia and her three grandchildren have been living in the refugee camp at Halong naval base for several months.

Ani, who identifies herself as a Butonese from Sulawesi, said that as a Muslim and a mother of two small children, all she really wanted was for peace to prevail, including living with her Christian neighbors.

However, she said she could understand if some of her relatives wanted to take revenge for the death of family members.

"But if we just follow our anger we will never be able to end this chaos," said Ani, who is among the 4,000 refugees at the naval base camp.

Maluku Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela expressed strong hope that Abdurrahman and Megawati would be able to introduce a new solution to end the violent conflicts.

Max said he had ordered all military personnel under his command to remain neutral and refrain from acting arrogantly which could further erode people's trust in the military.

Governor Latuconsina said the President would arrive 30 minutes after the Vice President's arrival at 11:30 local time.

Both of them will use Hercules military transport aircraft.

In Ambon they will hold an open, hour-long meeting with local leaders, which will be followed by closed-door meetings with 20 leaders of the parties involved in the conflict.

After the meeting, Abdurrahman will fly directly back to Jakarta, while Megawati will stay one night in Ambon before leaving for Biak, Irian Jaya, where she will also stay for one night.

On Tuesday morning she will fly to Ternate, the capital of the newly established North Maluku province, and meet with local leaders, before flying back to Jakarta in the afternoon. (04/50/prb/jun)