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.