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