Kostrad to stage exercises in Ambon to help end prolonged conflict

Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

The Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) will hold training exercises 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 exercises will involve a battalion, or a brigade, of Kostrad personnel from all units aimed at anticipating various security, defense and sectarian problems that have caused great suffering for the local people.

Asked whether the exercises 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 interest in creating peace 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 first 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 state of 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 further 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.