Maluku determined to rebuild peace after bitter conflict
Maluku determined to rebuild peace after bitter conflict
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A number of foreign diplomats and representatives of
international institutions made a field visit to Ambon on
Tuesday, touring the so-called reconciliation schools built by
the local administration with the assistance of the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP) and showing their support for
establishing permanent peace in the province after the 1999-2002
bloody sectarian conflict.
The visit was made at the invitation of the Ambon mayoral
administration in an attempt to attract the international
community's attention to its post-conflict rehabilitation
program.
Ambon Mayor Jopi Papilaja said the religious conflict that
plagued Maluku and North Maluku from January 1999 through
February 2002 may be over, but the government, along with many
third parties such as NGOs and Muslim and Christian
organizations, must work hard to repair the damages from the
conflict and to rebuild peace.
"The rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and facilities
will be easier after we have some funds in our hands. The more
complicated task is determining how to rebuild harmony between
the two religious communities, and this will take a long
process," he said while accompanying the foreign delegation to
reconciliation schools in Pohon Puleh, Nusaniwe.
The elementary, junior and senior high schools have allotted
greater time, activities and facilities to building better social
interaction between their Muslim and Christian students. The
curriculum has been designed to produce quality graduates who are
also agents of peace.
In a dialog with students and teachers, the foreign delegation
communicated their full support and appreciation to the schools
and their mission.
Teachers said their profession was demanding and required a
high sense of morality in handling challenging societal issues,
but felt they had played an important part in promoting peace
among the younger generation.
The UNDP has so far contributed 39 computers, a computer lab
and scholarships for gifted students from poor backgrounds, as
well as provided training for teachers.
Mayoral secretary J. Huliselen made a request to the foreign
delegation, asking for donations from their governments and
international institutions for the province.
"Maluku, mainly Ambon, is in need of a huge amount of funds to
rehabilitate the injured and all infrastructure damaged during
the conflict," he said.
Dutch Ambassador Ruud Treffers said his country had so far
donated US$10 million for rehabilitation projects and pledged to
coordinate with the European Union to raise more funds for Ambon.
"The Dutch government has been since early very committed to
rebuilding peace after the human tragedy in the province," Antara
quoted him as saying.
Also present among the delegation was Russian Ambassador
Vladimir Plotnikov and the UNDP country representative.
Treffers said he and other diplomats were happy to see all the
progress the province had made in restoring security and order
and rebuilding the peace between the Muslim and Christian
communities through the pursuit of activities involving all
residents, irrespective of their faith.
He also said he was seeking financial assistance from
Holland's partner institutions to help reconstruct Pattimura
University, which was burned down in July 2002.