Govt allocates Rp 100b for Poso

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