Locals demand resolution of Maluku unrest

JAKARTA (JP): More than 50 Muslims and Christians from Maluku rallied at the House of Representatives to protest the government's sluggishness in resolving prolonged sectarian violence in the province.

Led by Amir Hamzah from the Muslim group and Hendrik Pattinasa from the Christian group, the protesters, calling themselves the Reconciliation Alliance for Peace in Maluku, were received by House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno.

During the meeting, Amir asked the House to pressure the government to settle the conflict in Maluku, which has claimed more than 500 lives since mid-January.

The protesters accused the government of focusing on problems in Aceh while ignoring unrest in Maluku.

In a statement read out during the meeting, the protesters demanded the government bring to justice former presidents Soeharto and B.J. Habibie, and former military chiefs for violating human rights in Maluku.

They also demanded the trial of military officers who they alleged sparked the communal conflict in the province.

"The prolonged conflict in Maluku was caused by the slow response of the military and police. We have found a number of officers were involved in the conflict," Amir said.

The group also called on Muslims and Christians in Maluku to end the violence and begin rebuilding the province together.

They also gave the government a Jan. 31 ultimatum to resolve the conflict if it wished Maluku to remain a part of the unified state of Indonesia.

"The people of Maluku will decide their own political fate if the government's discrimination does not end," he said.

Amir demanded the House question Habibie and Soeharto for allowing human rights violations to occur in a number of areas in the country.

The alliance also proposed several approaches to prevent national disintegration, including the early implementation of the regional autonomy and fiscal balance laws; a commitment on the part of the government to resolve past human rights violations and prevent future abuses; the investigation of military officers and civilian officials suspected of rights abuses; and the declaration of the Maluku conflict as a national tragedy. (02)