Security forces lift roadblocks in Ambon ahead of Megawati visit
Security forces lift roadblocks in Ambon ahead of Megawati visit
M. Azis Tunny, Ambon
All barricades that were established two days ago by an
antiseparatist group on main streets across downtown Ambon,
Maluku, were lifted on Friday to prepare for a visit by President
Megawati Soekarnoputri to the riot-torn city on Saturday.
A number of presidential security guards were seen in the city
ensuring the safety of Megawati's first trip to Ambon after fresh
clashes there last month killed at least 39 people.
Despite renewed tension triggered by the establishment of
roadblocks on Wednesday by the antiseparatist group affiliated to
the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), Maluku Governor Karel Albert
Ralahalu gave an assurance that it would be safe for the
President to go to Ambon on Saturday.
The group is also planning to stage a demonstration against
separatists from the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), timed to
coincide with Megawati's arrival.
"We have torn down the barricades and hope that the
presidential visit will go ahead as scheduled," Karel told The
Jakarta Post.
The roadblocks were set up to put pressure on the Maluku
authorities to capture other FKM members still at large.
The FKM, which supports the South Maluku Republic (RMS), was
blamed for triggering renewed fighting in Ambon on April 25, its
54th anniversary. Police later rounded up leaders and activists
from the group.
On Wednesday, a seaborne sniper wounded a fisherman in Ambon
while a man was arrested carrying bombs, police were quoted by
AFP saying on Friday.
The renewed violence shattered a peace accord signed in
February 2002 by Muslim and Christian leaders to end three years
of sectarian fighting that started on Jan. 19, 1999. Some 6,000
people were killed and hundreds of thousands of people were
forced to flee.
Local leaders and analysts say the fresh clashes were
deliberately instigated ahead of the presidential election on
July 5. The previous fighting also started ahead of the 1999
election.
Megawati, who is seeking reelection, is slated to be in Ambon
for only two hours, the main purpose of the visit being to
inaugurate five development projects, worth Rp 97.6 billion
(US$10.8 million).
The projects, spread across Maluku, will be financed from the
state budget.
Apart from the inauguration ceremony, the President will meet
with local religious and community leaders to discuss attempts to
end the prolonged conflict in Maluku.
"There will be a meeting with local leaders, but before that
the President will hold a teleconference with the Seram regent
while inaugurating the Matakabo dam in his regency," Karel said.
To secure the President's visit, Pattimura Military Commander
Maj. Gen. Syarifuddin Summah said he was deploying three
battalions of troops in the province.
"We will prioritize the visit and assign as many troops as
possible to maintain security," he said.
From the three battalions, some 2,600 soldiers have been
assigned to guard vital installations and multistory buildings in
Ambon, similar to those from where snipers shot dead most of the
victims in the April fighting.
Syarifuddin said, however, he could not yet guarantee as of
Friday security around the Merdeka area, where Megawati's
helicopter will land from Ambon's Pattimura Airport at around 3
p.m.
After the brief visit to Ambon, Megawati is scheduled to fly
to neighboring North Maluku, where she will stay overnight in the
provincial capital, Ternate.
The President will later continue her journey to Timika, Papua
province, on Sunday.