Gus Dur to witness peace agreement signing in Poso

Gus Dur to witness peace agreement signing in Poso

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid is
scheduled to visit the riot-torn city of Poso in Central Sulawesi
on Tuesday to witness the signing of a peace agreement between
leaders of the Muslim and Christian communities.

The governors of four Sulawesi provinces will also meet
Abdurrahman in the Central Sulawesi capital of Palu, Antara
reported Monday.

The report did not give details of the peace agreement or who
would be brokering them.

South Sulawesi Governor H.Z.B. Palaguna was quoted as saying
they would report to the President results of their meeting to
find ways of dealing with the refugee problem and to halt the
sectarian violence.

Palace officials confirmed that the President would visit Poso
on Tuesday where sectarian clashes have forced thousands to flee
to Palu and other towns in the four Sulawesi provinces.

The news agency quoted a spokesman for the Central Sulawesi
administration, Longki Djanggola, as confirming the visit adding
that President Abdurrahman would be accompanied by his wife Sinta
Nuriyah and Minister for Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja.

Indonesian Military Chief Adm. Widodo A.S, National Police
Chief Gen. Rusdihardjo and the head of the Makassar-based
Wirabuana Military Command, Maj. Gen. Achmad Yahya, would also
join the entourage, Longki said.

The President will fly to Palu from Jakarta and then proceed
to Poso on board an Army helicopter.

He is scheduled to stay for 150 minutes in Poso and will
witness the signing of a peace agreement by the traditional
leaders from both camps of the sectarian conflict.

In their meeting at the lake resort town of Tentena in Central
Sulawesi on Aug. 13, the four governors agreed to seek assistance
from the central government for the refugees.

Assistance would be sought to rebuild public facilities that
have been damaged or destroyed in the months of clashes between
Muslims and Christians, and to build temporary shelters for the
returning refugees.

The governors also agreed to try and return all refugees to
Poso and assist the reconciliation efforts undertaken by the
Central Sulawesi authorities.

Muslim-Christian clashes first erupted in Poso in April after
a minor scuffle. The dispute quickly degenerated into clashes
between members of the Christian and Muslim communities.

After a lull of several weeks, violence broke out again in
May. The wave of clashes between Muslims and Christians have
already left more than 200 people dead and more than 5,000
buildings destroyed. (byg)