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.