Kostrad to stage antiriot exercise in Ambon

Kostrad to stage antiriot exercise in Ambon

Oktovianus Pinontoan
The Jakarta Post
Ambon

The Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) will hold an
antiriot exercise in the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon in
July in a bid to help end the prolonged conflict and restore
security and order in the restive city, says Kostrad Commander
Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu

"The week-long exercise will involve a battalion, or a
brigade, of Kostrad's personnel from all units aimed at ending
various security, defense and sectarian problems that have caused
great suffering for the local people.

Asked whether the exercise had something to do with the
government's plan to dissolve the South Maluku Republic (RMS)
secessionist movement and the proindependence Maluku Sovereignty
Forum (FKM) and expel militant group Laskar Jihad, Ryamizard
insisted that the military had its own interests to create a
peaceful condition in the province, which is part of the unitary
state of Indonesia.

"We deplore the prolonged conflict that has brought suffering
to the local people," he said, adding that the conflict that
erupted in January 1999 has claimed thousands of lives, displaced
hundreds of thousands of others and damaged vital assets and
public buildings in the city.

Kostrad also held a similar military exercise in Poso, Central
Sulawesi, last July, where only weeks later conflicting factions
signed the peace agreement in Malino, South Sulawesi.

Maluku authorities under the civil emergency have failed to
enforce the Malino peace deal and the central government's
directives because of poor coordination between the governor, the
local military and the local police.

Despite the peace deal, the Maluku authorities have been
unable to dissolve the RMS and FKM and to expel Laskar Jihad from
the province.

He said the military had deployed one battalion to the
Pattimura Military Command and had no plan to send
reinforcements.

Ryamizard who was accompanied by Army's Special Force
(Kopassus) Commander Maj. Gen. Amirul Isnaeni was scheduled to
meet with Governor Saleh Latuconsina, Brig. Gen. Mustopo, chief
of the Pattimura Military Command and Brig. Gen. Soenarko, chief
of the Maluku Provincial Police to discuss security and defense
problems in the province.