Ministers assess conflict in Maluku

The Jakarta Post, Ambon

The people of Maluku, frustrated by the prolonged Muslim- Christian conflict that has claimed more than 6,000 lives, greeted Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his entourage with hopes that the government would take the necessary measures to end the conflict and help rehabilitate the damaged infrastructure.

"We wish for peace to descend upon the land of Maluku," John Sahalessy, one of the religious leaders who welcomed the high- powered government officials upon their arrival at the provincial capital's airport here on Friday.

Also attending the welcoming ceremony were other religious figures from the two rival groups and local officials. Included in Susilo's entourage were Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, chief of the Indonesian Military's General Affairs.

The city of Ambon and the province of Maluku have witnessed the deaths of more than 6,000 and destruction of many buildings, but even a state of civil emergency has been ineffective in restoring order and security. Hundreds of thousands of others have been taking refuge in neighboring provinces since the conflict erupted on Jan. 19, 1999.

Both the government and religious leaders representing the conflicting factions have several times tried to facilitate a reconciliation but it could not be reached because of the presence of armed militias who apparently want to maintain the chaos, the absence of security authorities' neutrality and perhaps interference from outsiders.

Some 50 civilians and security personnel were killed in a series of bombings and shootings in the city between November and December 2001.

Susilo insisted that their main mission was to assess the conflict and to meet with local officials and leaders of the two conflicting factions and to evaluate the state of civil emergency in the province as well as the one in North Maluku.

Sahalessy, also a pastor of the Indonesian Christian Church in Wayane Subdistrict of Ambon, said the situation in the city had gradually returned to normal but it could turn tense at any time because of the absence of a strong coordination between the local military and the police.

Sumuid, a Muslim figure, said all residents in the city were fed up with the conflict and that they previously lived in harmony but that situation has been disturbed by third parties.

He said the Muslim and Christian groups in Wayane had set up a 20-member team to step up security and prevent aliens from entering the subdistrict.

Susilo and his entourage were scheduled to hold separate meetings with religious and informal leaders from the two factions in the province, respectively, at Governor Saleh Latuconsina's official residence in the city on Saturday.