Rival Maluku groups sign peace accord

Rival Maluku groups sign peace accord

Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Malino

Under the government's mediation, the two delegations of opposing
factions, Muslims and Christians, signed a peace agreement that
may end the three-year sectarian conflict that has claimed more
than 6,000 lives and displaced some 700,000 people.

The peace accord containing 11 main points was signed by the
two delegations' 70 members at 3:05 p.m. local time on the second
day of their two-day peace talks held in Malino, some 70
kilometers northeast of the South Sulawesi provincial capital of
Makassar on Tuesday.

Both government officials and observers appeared satisfied
when the two groups of delegates shook hands after signing the
accord and began to sing the national anthem Padamu Negri (for
you, my country).

The nine mediators representing the government in the peace
talks were Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina,
South Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna, chief of the Pattimura
Military Command supervising Maluku and North Maluku Brig. Gen.
Mustopo, National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, Ambon Mayor
Max Papilaya, Maluku Provincial Police Chief Brig. Gen. Sunarko,
Maluku Legislature Chairman Z. Sahuburua and Maluku Deputy
Governor Paula B. Renyaan.

In addition to the mediators, 19 figures representing numerous
groups who attended the meeting as observers, also witnessed the
signing of the peace deal.

According to the accord, the two sides agreed to end the
conflict that erupted on Jan. 19, 1999 and to uphold the law in
endeavors to create peace in the violence-torn province.

Minister Kalla hailed the peace agreement, saying: "This a
progressive step towards creating a peaceful situation in Maluku
and allowing the people in the province to put this prolonged
crisis behind them. It is binding not only for the two warring
factions but also for other sides, including the government,
military, police and religion-based groups."

Thamrin Ely, leader of the Muslim delegates, said he would now
be committed to complying with the peace accord, but with one
possible exception.

"Yes, we are all committed to implementing the peace deal," he
said.

He added, however, that the Muslims in Maluku did not want the
Maluku administration to expel Laskar Jihad -- the Java-based
paramilitary troops -- by force.

"They should be allowed to stay in Maluku as long as they do
not violate the law because they are also Indonesian citizens,"
he told The Jakarta Post.

Tonny Paraile, leader of the Christian delegation, said the
two sides must be accountable for their own members or supporters
found guilty of violating the law and the peace accord.

"We are optimistic the two sides will be able to end the
conflict and create peace," he said.

Amboina Bishop Mgr. P.C. Mandagi, a member of the Christian
delegation, said there were no other alternatives for the two
sides but to end the conflict and work together to create peace.

"The government should play its role as a fair judge to
supervise the implementation of the peace agreement," he said.

From Washington, the United States government welcomed the
peace agreement to end the sectarian bloodshed.

"Such dialog is key to resolving the conflict in Maluku,"
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement.

"These talks are an important step in Indonesia's efforts to
end violence, re-establish the rule of law and provide for
reconstruction in the troubled province," he said.

The United States has provided nearly six million dollars in
assistance to victims on both sides of the conflict and will
continue that support for reconstruction and reconciliation,
Boucher said.

The peace talks began on Monday at a neutral venue in the hill
resort of Malino.

Unrest broke out in Ambon, the capital of the Malukus,
following a trivial dispute in January 1999. Apart from some
6,000 deaths, the conflict has forced more than half a million
people from their homes. Related story on Page 2

In the pact, the two sides agree to end all conflict, enforce the
law equally, reject separatist movements, accept the presence of
migrants, reject the presence of all militias, including Laskar
Jihad, set up an investigation team, return all the displaced
people, rehabilitate all damaged assets with government aid, ask
security authorities to remain neutral and normalize education
activities at Pattimura University.