Long promised prosecutors yet to arrive in Maluku

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Some 30 prosecutors the government promised to send to Maluku several months ago are yet to arrive in the strife-torn province.

Head of Maluku High Prosecution Office, I Made Sunetja said on Tuesday that the conflict-torn province was facing a serious shortage of prosecutors -- a crucial element in law enforcement.

"We urge the Attorney General's Office to order those prosecutors to immediately come to Maluku and carry out their duties here because the province is unable to handle all law violations and other serious cases with limited prosecutors," I Made was quoted by Antara as saying.

He refused to speculate the reasons why the prosecutors had not shown up. Early this year, the government promised to send more prosecutors and judges to Maluku.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said in June that senior judges would be sent to Maluku to handle over 100 cases but there had been no news about the judges coming since then.

Law enforcements issues forms part of a peace agreement signed by representatives of warring Maluku Muslim and Christian communities in Malino, South Sulawesi on Feb. 12, 2002.

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

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.

"There were only seven prosecutors at the Maluku High Prosecution Office, far below the ideal number of 15, while there are only two prosecutors at the Masohi district court in Central Maluku," Sunetja said.

According to Sunetja, there are 84 prosecutors assigned to 15 district courts in the province.

Meanwhile, Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina said on Tuesday that poor law enforcement had undermined efforts to put an end to a religious conflict that has been beleaguering the province since January 1999.

"Law violations should be handled and exposed as soon as possible but unfortunately there are still obstacles in addressing the problems," Latuconsina was quoted by Antara as saying on Tuesday.

He refused to reveal problems encountered in enforcing the law in the province. "You journalists already know the obstacles, I don't have to explain them in details," he said.

He appealed to local people to help the law enforces in resolving the problems there by giving information on what was happening in their respective communities.