Govt allocates Rp 100b for Poso

JAKARTA: The government has allocated some Rp 100 billion (US$10 million) in funds to rebuild the strife-torn area of Poso, Central Sulawesi, targeted especially for houses, schools and places of worship.

Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf Kalla said on Monday, after meeting President Megawati Soekarnoputri, that the funds were ready for use as long as the security situation remained as positive as it had done lately.

The minister said the funds would be used to rebuild at least 10,000 houses, several schools and places of worship, and to repatriate refugees to the area.

He added that he also reported the peace declaration that resulted from the Malino, South Sulawesi, meeting between the warring groups in Poso and the President urged implementation of the agreement.

Poso has been wrecked by sectarian clashes since 1998 that have claimed thousands of innocent lives.--JP