Sulawesi governors sign Poso peace deal

Sulawesi governors sign Poso peace deal

TENTENA, Central Sulawesi (JP): Sulawesi governors signed a
peace accord for Poso here on Sunday with recommendations for
security guarantees for refugees, psychological and
infrastructural rehabilitation and fair law enforcement.

South Sulawesi governor HZB Palaguna, the initiator of the
meeting, said that President Abdurrahman Wahid could use this
'Sulawesi solidarity' agreement as an example for reconciliation
and peace efforts in other 'hot spots' around the country.

Palaguna did not reveal the detailed mechanisms for the
implementation of the recommendations.

Three governors were in attendance at the meeting-- North
Sulawesi Governor A.J. Sondakh, HZM Palaguna and Central Sulawesi
Governor GB. Paliudju. Southeast Sulawesi Governor Laode
Kaimuddin, who was due to attend, failed to appear. It is unclear
whether he was represented by his deputy.

Religious and youth leaders as well as local figures from the
four provinces were also invited to the meeting, which was held
at the Pambug Indah Hotel, Tentena, some 55 kilometers south of
Poso.

The meeting was the third after a first meeting in Makassar
and a second in Manado, North Sulawesi in May.

The three governors voiced their optimism that the deal would
progressively extinguish the sectarian conflict in Poso.

A.J. Sondakh expressed his optimism that the deal would
accelerate the reconciliation process and the improvement of
security in clash-torn Poso, "... so that all the refugees could
return home soon."

According to Palaguna, the meeting is a strong indication that
all Sulawesi people were determined to help curb the clashes.

The governors had earlier pledged to help Central Sulawesi
restore its economy by, among other things, providing special
aid.

Meanwhile, Paliudju said that the security guarantees
mentioned in the deal would make possible the recovery of the
local economy. "We will seriously put into effect what we have
just signed."

The first fracas broke out in Poso last year. The latest
disturbances erupted on May 23 this year, with at least 300
people killed and 4,000 buildings destroyed.

There are now around 60,000 Poso refugees living in various
camps located in separate parts of Sulawesi.

Pessimism

For most of the refugees, the agreement was merely a political
move among the members of the 'elite'.

Rev. Rinaldy Damanik of the Sulawesi Christian Church Crisis
Control Center said that the meeting would not be able to settle
the crisis "as long as it (the meeting) does not involve the
actors who participated in the fray. We were involved in the
fighting, but we are now just spectators at the meeting."

He added that the security of the refugees had yet to be
guaranteed by the inhabitants should they return home. "Please
don't force them (the refugees) to return to their homeland for
the time being."

Hundreds of refugees had earlier expressed their skepticism.

Refugees living in several camps in the regency of Luwu Utara,
South Sulawesi province said that the deal reached during the
meeting could not put an end to their anger following the killing
of their relatives during the disturbances.

"We are not sure that the meeting can guarantee security and
assuage our trauma and desire for revenge," Sri Hartati, 27, told
The Jakarta Post in Mangkutana on Friday. She and her family are
now living in a camp in Wonorejo, Massamba district, South
Sulawesi.

"How can I return to Poso if all that I had there has been
destroyed by our (former) neighbors," Sri Hartati said.

Another refugee, Abdurrahman, 17, said it was understandable
that the refugees were doubtful about post-riot security
conditions.

Imam Muhajir, a Massamba district resident whose house has
been used to house the refugees, said; "If the meeting is
unfruitful, another sectarian clash will erupt soon." (27/sur)