Locals demand resolution of Maluku unrest

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)