Six governors visit Maluku

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Six governors visited Maluku on Wednesday to observe the situation in the province, which was recently rocked by sectarian violence.

The governors were Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubowono X, Gorontalo Governor Fadel Muhammad, Banten Governor Joko Munandar, Lampung Governor Tursandi Alwi, and Southeast Sulawesi Governor Ali Mazi.

Five governors boarded a chartered airplane from Jakarta toward Denpasar. From Denpasar, the airplane landed in the Southeast Sulawesi capital of Kendari to pick up Ali Mazi. The governors disembarked in Ambon, the capital of Maluku.

Several civilian and military officials welcomed the six governors to Ambon.

"The visit is aimed at observing the current situation in Ambon. We may set up business cooperation with the Maluku provincial government after the visit. At least, the visit symbolizes that we express concern over sectarian conflict in Maluku and we are ready to help rehabilitate the province," said Ali Mazi.

Maluku was rocked by sectarian conflict in 1999. Tens of thousands of residents were killed in the bloody conflict, and hundreds of thousands of others were forced to flee the island. -- Antara