Protests greet Maluku negotiators

Protests greet Maluku negotiators

Jupriadi and Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Makassar

The peace accord for Maluku signed in Malino, Central Sulawesi on
Feb. 12, 2001 was tested once again as protesters greeted the
delegates upon their return in Ambon, the Maluku provincial
capital, on Thursday.

In their protest against peace, a vocal group of Muslims
condemned the peace delegations as they were on their way from
Pattimura airport to the Maluku governor's office in the city.

Another group apparently from the local Christian community
also pelted the cars carrying Muslim delegates with stones as
they passed the Navigasi seaport area en route to the governor's
office. A window of a delegate's car was broken in the incident.

Antara news agency reported that the situation became very
tense when hundreds of Muslims gathered at the Al-Fatah Mosque,
only 200 meters away from the rock-throwing Christians, but,
later, both groups were dispersed without further incident.

On Wednesday, two bombs were detonated in Mardika-Batumerah
subdistrict at 11 p.m. local time but there were no casualties
reported. The local police are still investigating the incident.

The Java-based paramilitary force, Laskar Jihad has come out
squarely in opposition of the peace agreement which, among other
things, specifically names them and requires the 3,000 or so
armed militiamen to leave the province. The force's leaders,
however, claim they should not have to leave because they are
Indonesian, and they intend to conduct "humanitarian" operations.

In addition to clashes with security personnel, the presence
of Laskar Jihad had contributed to the prolonged conflict,
according to experts.

Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina, who was visiting Jakarta on
Thursday, ordered the police chief and the Pattimura military
command chief to investigate the bombings and rock-throwing and
arrest those responsible.

Maluku Provincial Police Chief Brig. Gen. Sunarko who felt
ashamed by the two incidents, said the police would investigate
thoroughly and would deal harshly with those found guilty of
violating the law and groups who were trying to breach the peace
accord.

"I will not stay calm. harsh measures will be taken against
the people who are trying to ruin the peace agreement. The law
shall be enforced strictly and equally," he said.

Sunarko who joined the entourage to welcome all the delegates,
expressed his disappointment with the two incidents, which he
considered a real test for security authorities to keep the peace
and enforce the law in the province.

The 70 members of the two rival delegations flew in together
aboard a military Hercules C-130 aircraft from Makassar to Ambon,
symbolizing the peace among them. But they are facing a daunting
task to explain the accord containing eleven important points
among the people, some of whom oppose it.

One of key points is point number six on disarming both sides.

Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, chief of the National Police which is in
charge of security in Maluku, vowed to impose stern penalties
against anyone trying to dismantle the accord, regardless of
their religious or ethnic background.

The police were giving three months for the two rival factions
to disseminate the points in the peace accord to their own
supporters before launching their disarmament operation in the
province.

"After the three-month socialization period, the police will
disarm everybody to create a conducive situation for peace in the
province," he said.

He also said the state of civil emergency would depend much on
the situation. "The emergency state will be lifted only after the
situation is truly conducive in the province," he said.

Commenting on Wednesday's bombings, Da'i said an investigation
was under way.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government would be
tough on those who promoted violence.

"If there are one or two people who disagree with the Malino
peace deal, it's their right. But, should there be anyone who
leads, incites or becomes part of a new conflict, the government
will deal with them severely," he said.

Vice President Hamzah Haz also called on the security forces
to search for weapons and disarm the people.

Separately, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza
Mahendra said the government would soon send judges to the
province because of the prolonged conflict.

"Judges will be sent to Ambon only after the situation is
truly peaceful," he said.

The two rival groups have urged the central government to send
more judges and prosecutors to Ambon since many law enforcers had
quit their jobs during the conflict.