Maluku governor offers weapons amnesty to local

Maluku governor offers weapons amnesty to local

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

ku governor Karel Albert Ralahalu called on Maluku residents
on Saturday to surrender their weapons -- including guns and
home-made bombs -- to security personnel on the grounds that the
situation in Maluku had returned to normal.

He added that it was useless to own weapons in Maluku, as
security had been restored in the formerly riot-torn island.

The possession of weapons has been a cause of concern, as it
could damage post-conflict rehabilitation now being carried out
in Maluku.

" Should Maluku residents surrender their weapons, it would
help law enforcement there. Moreover, civilians have no right
whatsoever to possess weapons," Karel was quoted as saying by
Antara in the Maluku capital, Ambon.

Karel gave an assurance that the authorities in Maluku would
not file charges against residents who surrendered weapons of
their own volition.

"This has already happened. A number of residents from several
subdistricts in Maluku surrendered their weapons recently, but no
charges were made against them," he said.

Otherwise, the governor warned, residents could face lengthy
jail sentences if they were caught in illegal possession of
weapons.

State of Emergency Law No. 23/1959 rules that those in illegal
possession of weapons face prosecution, with a maximum sentence
of life imprisonment.

The governor called on people to assist the government and
security personnel to maintain peace in Maluku, so that the post-
conflict rehabilitation programs would be a success.

The programs include reconstruction of public facilities
damaged during riots in Maluku from 1999 to 2002.

Sectarian conflict broke out in Ambon in 1999, and spread
quickly to adjacent areas, including North Maluku. Thousands of
people were killed and hundreds of thousands of others fled the
islands, taking refuge in other islands in Indonesia.

The conflict ceased after the Malino accord was signed by the
warring parties last year, but sporadic clashes continued to
occur in the island.

The conflict died down completely this year, and the central
government declared on Sept. 15 that the state of emergency had
been lifted in Maluku.

Karel said that it was now time for Maluku residents to spur
on development in Maluku, to catch up with other regions in
Indonesia.