Judges to soon return to Maluku: Yusril

Judges to soon return to Maluku: Yusril

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government is expected to soon send back judges to Maluku
to strengthen law enforcement in a bid to bring back peace to a
province ravaged by three years of sectarian violence.

Prosecuting those violating the law is considered a crucial
phase in the peace process but the authorities are faced with a
serious shortage of judges and prosecutors.

The law enforcement issue forms part of the agreement made
between the representatives of warring Maluku Muslim and
Christian communities in Malino, South Sulawesi on Feb. 12, 2002.

The conflict, which has reportedly claimed some 6,000 lives,
scared off almost all the prosecutors, judges and court clerks,
working in the province.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra,
speaking on the sidelines of the people-smuggling conference in
Bali, said the situation in Maluku had eased after the signing of
the Malino peace accord.

"We are considering sending at least two boards of judges by
the end of this month at the latest," said Yusril adding that his
ministry would liaise with the Supreme Court regarding the
selection of the judges.

Yusril had earlier said that he would send judges to Maluku
only after the situation improved. His remarks have sparked
severe criticism because the government was considered too slow
in implementing law enforcement there.

Ambon District Court deputy chief F. Takaria complained that
Maluku was facing a serious shortage of prosecutors and judges --
two crucial elements in law enforcement.

"There were 10 judges at the Ambon District Court, including
its chief and deputy chief, before the conflict. Today only three
judges are left," he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Takaria added that Yusril had promised to send seven judges to
Ambon but had yet to do so.

Separately, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, also
attending the conference, told reporters that police had
identified two warring groups still committing violence in
Maluku.

"There are two groups -- Christian and Muslim -- which are
against the Malino peace deal," he said.

They identified the Christian group as the separatist Maluku
Sovereignty Forum (FKM) chaired by Dr. Alex Manuputti and the
Muslim group as Kelompok 11 (the Group of Eleven) chaired by
Rustam Kastor.

"We will approach them and hear their what they have to say
and at the same time closely monitor their activities," said
Da'i, adding that these groups comprised minority interests.

"Their influence is not significant. However, the police could
only arrest them if they are found violating the laws, such as
possessing illegal weapons."

Regarding the presence of the Java-based Muslim militant group
Laskar Jihad, Dai said that as long as it was working on
humanitarian activities, such as medical and social activities,
the police could accept its presence.

"But, if they come to Maluku with weapons, we would certainly
take stern action against them," he said.

In maintaining security in Maluku, Dai also plans to gradually
send 590 members of the elite police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) to
Java for refresher programs.

"They have been in Maluku since the first conflict erupted
three years ago. They are physically and mentally exhausted," he
said.

They will be sent to training center in Porong to attend
various courses and training for one month.

"The rotation of the police members in Maluku is part of our
efforts to place fresh and objective officers in order to
maintain security there," Dai said.

Meanwhile, thousands of Maluku Muslims from South Sulawesi
arrived on Wednesday at the Alfatah Grand Mosque in Ambon, to
discuss the Malino peace pact.

Following the event at the mosque, more than 500 of the
participants from Pelauw, Kabauw, Rohomoni and Kailolo walked one
kilometer to the Maluku governor's office where they were greeted
with hugs and tears by Christians from the same four areas.

A Christian grassroots figure, Emang Nikijuluw, who witnessed
the emotional reunion with Maluku administration officials, said
that this was what Christians had always expected from Muslims.

"We are brothers ... but our Muslim and Christian communities
were misused by a third party. If we fail to realize that now,
the Maluku people will end up extinct from killing one another,"
Emang said.