Govt gives go-ahead to Maluku legislature to elect new governor

Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon, Maluku

After receiving a green light from the central government, the Maluku Legislative Council will be making preliminary preparations to hold a gubernatorial election after a delay of nine months.

Legislative council deputy chairman Jhon Mailoa said in a press conference here on Saturday that the provincial legislature was scheduled to hold a plenary session on Monday to form a gubernatorial election committee that will be chaired by legislator Zeth Sahuburua.

"Despite the civil emergency, the situation in Maluku has been deemed conducive to hold a gubernatorial election. We need a permanent governor to lead the province ahead of the June 2004 general election and presidential election," he said.

He did not name a date for the gubernatorial election but said it would be held this year.

Home minister Hari Sabarno has delivered an official letter, asking the provincial legislative council to elect a new governor for the 2003-2008 period.

The central government had delayed the gubernatorial election that should have been held last September, for an indefinite period due to the political instability in the province, and appointed Sinyo Herman Sarundayang as acting governor.

Months before and after September last year, several areas in the province, including the provincial capital of Ambon, were rocked by bomb blasts, prompting the central government to delay the gubernatorial election.

Certain groups who were disappointed with the signing of the February 2002 Malino peace agreement are believed to be behind the series of bomb blasts.

The situation in the province became heated in April in connection with the celebration of the South Maluku Republic (RMS) separatist movement's 53rd anniversary. Dozens of RMS supporters and leaders were sent to prison and arrested for raising the outlawed organization's flag.

The political instability is partly the result of the three- year sectarian conflict that claimed more than 6,000 lives and displaced around 750,000 people. The conflict erupted on Jan. 19, 1999.

Mailoa said further that the provincial legislature would coordinate closely with the civil emergency administrator and the local and military authorities to maintain security and order during the gubernatorial election.

"We will set a schedule for all phases ranging from the selection of gubernatorial candidates to the election and installation of a new governor," he said, adding that he had no idea who would be running in the election.

He acknowledged that the situation in the province was gradually returning to normal and the legislature would ask the central government to ask the central government to lift the civil emergency after the province elected a new governor.