Mega's visit to Halmahera awaited

Mega's visit to Halmahera awaited

TERNATE, Maluku: People in Tobelo, Galela, Kao and Morotai,
all in North Halmahera regency, North Maluku, are awaiting the
visit of President Megawati to the regency to meet with two
groups that were once involved in a conflict.

"People in that regency, both Muslims and Christians, demand
the President fulfill her promise to visit areas that have been
disturbed by conflict," traditional leader Sadrat Tongoh-Tongoh
told Antara here on Friday.

When visiting Galela subdistrict in her capacity as Vice
President in December 2000, Megawati made a promise to visit
those areas. However, in her new position as President, she has
entrusted the task of seeking a solution to conflicts in the
regions, including North Maluku, to Vice President Hamzah Haz.

But Megawati, who is now the President, has promised again to
meet with the two conflicting groups in North Halmahera,
according to Sadrat.

He said people in North Halmahera hailed the delegation of the
task of seeking a peaceful solution to conflicts in North Maluku,
Ambon (Maluku), Poso (Central Sulawesi) and Kalimantan to Vice
President Hamzah Haz.

It was reported from Tobelo, North Halmahera, that both
Muslims and Christians in the regency were awaiting the visit of
President Megawati to open an orphanage for children that had
lost their parents during the conflicts in North Maluku.