Ministers assess conflict in Maluku
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.