Maluku to have new governor

Maluku to have new governor

AMBON, Maluku: Home Minister Hari Sabarno is scheduled to
swear in Brig. Gen. (ret) Karel Ralahalu as governor and Mohammad
Abdullah Latuconsina as deputy governor on Sept. 15.

Cak Saimima, a public administration assistant to the
governor, said here on Saturday that acting governor Sinyo
Sarundayang has been asked to coordinate with the provincial
legislative council to make necessary preparations for the
swearing-in ceremony.

Sarundayang has been acting governor for ten months, since
former governor Saleh Latuconsina's term of office expired on
Dec. 11, 2002. The gubernatorial election was delayed because of
the unstable political conditions in the province, due to the
prolonged sectarian conflict in which more than 6,000 people have
been killed between 1999 and 2002.

Karel and his running mate, Abdullah, won a major victory in
the gubernatorial election held on Aug. 16. -- JP