Peace elusive in Maluku despite accord

Octavianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

Peace remains elusive in Maluku province as a number of militant groups continue to oppose the Malino peace accord, which was mediated by the government last month to end the three-year- old sectarian conflict.

Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina told the media over the weekend that although most of the feuding parties had accepted the 11-point agreement, a small number of groups still opposed it and had launched a campaign to persuade other people to reject it.

"As a matter of fact, there are still people who do not approve of the agreement. I hope that people here do not rest on their laurels," he said.

Overall, however, the situation in the province has been gradually improving since the Malino agreement, which was reached last month between 35 Muslim delegates and 35 Christian delegates in Malino, 70 kilometers from Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province.

Maluku Military Commander, Mustopo said that 80 percent of the people of Maluku had accepted the Malino peace pact and only 20 percent oppose it. "That's our conclusion based on our field research," he said, without identifying the opponents.

Since the peace accord was signed on Feb. 12, several hardline groups have voiced their refusal through, among other things, demonstrations in the provincial capital.

They include the Maluku Front of Muslim Defenders under Husni Putuhena, the Special Task Force of Amar Maruf Nahi Munkar under Muhamad Attamimi, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Rustam Kastor, Ustad Bahasoan and Laskar Jihad Ahlussunah Wal Jamaah.

An interview broadcast last week on Suara Perjuangan Moslem Maluku Radio (Voice of Maluku Muslim Movement Radio) -- which is run by hardliners Laskar Jihad -- quoted Husni Putuhena and Rustam Kastor as saying they entirely opposed the 11-point Malino peace pact.

There are also opponents of the peace pact on the Christian side, but they have only refused some points of the peace agreement, not all.

They are the Maluku Sovereign Front (FKM) under the leadership of Alex Manuputty and the South Maluku Republic (RMS). They oppose point six of the peace pact, which refers to them as Laskar Kristus (Christian Soldiers) and the Christian RMS, and point three, which refer to RMS as a separatist movement.

Maluku Police Chief, Brig. Gen. Sunarko said that the police were still investigating who were behind the recent violent rallies. He refused to confirm reports that the police had not made any arrests even though they knew the identities of the organizers.

"We cannot arrest people without strong evidence," he said.

Daud Sangadji, a member of the Muslim delegation at the Malino meeting, refused to comment.

Emang Nikijuluw, a member of the Christian delegation at the meeting, said that after the meeting it was up the government to enforce the peace pact.

The police have given both the conflicting parties three months to disseminate the 11 points of the peace pact, which requires, among other things, both rivals to disarm themselves and militiamen, including members of Laskar Jihad and RMS, to leave the province.