Government to evaluate Maluku's emergency status

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government wants a thorough evaluation of the viability of the civil emergency authority in Maluku owing to the fact that the prolonged conflict persists despite the peace agreement.

Home minister Hari Sabarno told reporters after a meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri the assessment was badly needed to help the state of civil emergency work.

"There should be an evaluation of the structure, procedure and the operation of the civil emergency ... to determine which part needs mending," Hari told reporters after meeting President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the State Palace.

Hari fell short of detailing the concrete measures the government will take to help the provincial government restore peace and order, as well as responding to speculation that incumbent Governor Saleh Latuconsina would be replaced on the grounds of incompetence.

"There is a mechanism to replace governors. The issue now is: How should a governor of a territory, in which a civil emergency is imposed, act? We still have a lot to learn," he said.

Latuconsina's five-year term as the Maluku governor will officially expire in November. He was named administrator of the civil emergency after it was imposed in July 2000.

The governor has come under criticism for failing to exercise his authority, as evident in the local military's refusal to comply with his order to arrest Laskar Jihad leader Ja'far Umar Thalib following the attack on Soya village on April 28.

Hari also reiterated that the government had no intention of upgrading the emergency status to martial law.

Hari's remarks came after the President promised a delegation from the Maluku legislative council to evaluate the way the civil emergency worked in the province.

The Maluku legislators, led by speaker Z. Sahuburua, raised the issue during a meeting with Megawati on Wednesday.

The President also agreed to the legislators' proposal to form an inquiry team to investigate law violations that had occurred during the three-year sectarian conflict.

Representatives of the warring Muslims and Christian groups signed a peace pact on Feb. 12 in the South Sulawesi town of Malino.

Also on Friday, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that preparations for the establishment of an investigative team were under way.

Susilo said the lineup of the team would be disclosed following the President's approval.

"We (the government) realize that investigation into the violations might raise emotions among locals. Therefore, we have decided to investigate carefully, starting from the latest cases, such as the Soya massacre or the bombing of the gubernatorial office early last month," Susilo said.

Earlier, Susilo issued a directive that also orders the dissolution of the Maluku Sovereignty Forum and the expulsion of Laskar Jihad hard-line Muslim organization, the two organizations blamed for fueling the conflict in Maluku.

Susilo further told Maluku authorities to enhance cooperation with law enforcers to help end the prolonged conflict there. He added a battalion of Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) will soon be sent to Maluku as reinforcements to help maintain security there.

Meanwhile, a delegation of House of Representatives legislators failed to land in Ambon on Friday due to thick cloud. Visibility was reported to reach only 400 meters, far from the safety standard of 2,500 meters.

Their flight was rerouted to Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi. The legislators will fly to Ambon on Saturday.