Peaceful end sought for Maluku conflict

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Pattimura Military chief Brig. Gen. Mustopo stated on Thursday that the prolonged conflict in the Maluku islands could not be settled with repressive measures from the military and police.

Speaking at the Pattimura Military Command Headquarters in Batugajah, Mustopo emphasized the need to approach both Muslim and Christian leaders.

Mustopo, who took over the post only one month ago, said he had observed that the settlement of the conflict, which has claimed the lives of both civilians and members of security forces, did not depend only on the military (TNI) or the police.

"The provincial administration, the people as well as the media must play significant roles in finding peace in the province.

"It is hard to seek a solution to the prolonged conflict in Maluku without involving all the elements as the hostility between the conflicting groups has not abated and locals are not free of the fear, worry and trauma," Mustopo said. He admitted, however, that the intensity of the conflict had been decreasing gradually on a daily basis.

He explained that the military and the police had decided to take persuasive steps by using a personal and human approach. "Only if this approach fails will the military take stern measures."

He cited that fostering reconciliation between the two groups was one of the military's main tasks in Maluku and North Maluku provinces.

The reconciliation will run smoothly if civilians in both provinces are not armed, Mustopo said, calling on all those who were in possession of any weapons to voluntarily hand them over to security forces.

According to the latest data, over 600 automatic weapons are estimated to be in the hands of civilians in Maluku and North Maluku as only 200 of the approximately 800 stolen from the arsenal of the National Police's Mobile Brigade in Tantui on June 23, 2000 had been recovered.

In a related development, Pattimura Military Chief of Staff Col. Safrudin Sumah said that TNI chief Adm. Widodo AS had instructed the Pattimura Military Command to thoroughly investigate the killing of three members of the Intelligence Detachment of the Pattimura Military Command at the end of May in the OSM area of Nusaniwe subdistrict in Ambon.

"We will ask the police for an initial report on the killings," Safrudin said. (49/sdt)