JP/4/MEGA

Ambon roadblocks lifted ahead of Megawati's visit

M. Azis Tunny Ambon

All barricades that were established two days ago by an antiseparatist group on main streets across downtown Ambon, Maluku, were lifted on Friday to prepare for a visit by President Megawati Soekarnoputri to the riot-torn city on Saturday.

A number of presidential security guards were seen in the city ensuring the safety of Megawati's first trip to Ambon after fresh clashes there last month killed at least 39 people.

Despite renewed tension triggered by the establishment of roadblocks on Wednesday by the antiseparatist group affiliated to the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu gave an assurance that it would be safe for the President to go to Ambon on Saturday.

The group is also planning to stage a demonstration against separatists from the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), timed to coincide with Megawati's arrival.

"We have torn down the barricades and hope that the presidential visit will go ahead as scheduled," Karel told The Jakarta Post.

The roadblocks were set up to put pressure on the Maluku authorities to capture other FKM members still at large.

The FKM, which supports the South Maluku Republic (RMS), was blamed for triggering renewed fighting in Ambon on April 25, its 54th anniversary. Police later rounded up leaders and activists from the group.

On Wednesday, a seaborne sniper wounded a fisherman in Ambon while a man was arrested carrying bombs, police were quoted by AFP saying on Friday.

The renewed violence shattered a peace accord signed in February 2002 by Muslim and Christian leaders to end three years of sectarian fighting that started on Jan. 19, 1999. Some 6,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee.

Local leaders and analysts say the fresh clashes were deliberately instigated ahead of the presidential election on July 5. The previous fighting also started ahead of the 1999 election.

Megawati, who is seeking reelection, is slated to be in Ambon for only two hours, the main purpose of the visit being to inaugurate five development projects, worth Rp 97.6 billion (US$10.8 million).

The projects, spread across Maluku, will be financed from the state budget.

Apart from the inauguration ceremony, the President will meet with local religious and community leaders to discuss attempts to end the prolonged conflict in Maluku.

"There will be a meeting with local leaders, but before that the President will hold a teleconference with the Seram regent while inaugurating the Matakabo dam in his regency," Karel said.

To secure the President's visit, Pattimura Military Commander Maj. Gen. Syarifuddin Summah said he was deploying three battalions of troops in the province.

"We will prioritize the visit and assign as many troops as possible to maintain security," he said.

From the three battalions, some 2,600 soldiers have been assigned to guard vital installations and multistory buildings in Ambon, similar to those from where snipers shot dead most of the victims in the April fighting.

Syarifuddin said, however, he could not yet guarantee as of Friday security around the Merdeka area, where Megawati's helicopter will land from Ambon's Pattimura Airport at around 3 p.m.

After the brief visit to Ambon, Megawati is scheduled to fly to neighboring North Maluku, where she will stay overnight in the provincial capital, Ternate.

The President will later continue her journey to Timika, Papua province, on Sunday.