Inquiry team arrives in Ambon

The much-criticized independent team set up by the government to investigate violations of the law in Maluku arrived in Ambon on Wednesday to start their probe into all communal crimes committed during the three-year sectarian conflict.

The team, led by I Wayan Karya, a senior aid to the coordinating minister for political and security affairs, will have six months to carry out its investigation and report its findings to the President.

Wayan said his team had already questioned former Maluku Police chief Sr. Comr. Karyono and the former commander of the now defunct Pattimura Military Resort Command, Col. Hikayat, in Jakarta prior to its departure for the province.

"We hope we will be able to uncover all the legal violations that occurred during the three years of conflict, and bring all of the perpetrators to justice," he told reporters upon the team's arrival at the city's airport.

During the investigation, the team would question local officials, including Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina, Pattimura Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso, Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko Danu Ardianto, local legislators, as well as local figures and members of the feuding communities.

The team has drawn criticism as it includes government officials, and police and military officers.

The team was established to follow up on the Malino peace accord, which was signed by representatives of the conflicting factions on February 12, 2002.

The team is expected to investigate a litany of bloodthirsty incidents, including the April 28 attack on the predominantly Christian village of Soya in Ambon, which claimed at least 14 lives. --JP