Six governors visit Maluku

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