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.