Susilo says government serious in Maluku

Susilo says government serious in Maluku

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political,
Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dismissed on
Tuesday the allegations that the government had not been serious
in handling the sectarian violence in the Maluku and North Maluku
provinces.

He said Jakarta had deployed 13,000 soldiers to the territory
to help restore peace and order.

"It (the figure) represents 65 percent of the total 50
military battalions being dispatched to various riot-prone areas
across the country," Susilo told reporters during a one-day visit
by Cabinet ministers to the riot-torn province.

Each military battalion consists of 400 soldiers.

"The figure doesn't include police reinforcements," he said.

The ministerial delegation included Minister of Defense Mahfud
M.D., Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Erna
Witoelar, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Alhilal Hamdi,
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo AS, Junior Minister
for the Acceleration of Development in Indonesia's Eastern
Regions Manuel Kaisiepo and several high ranking military
officers.

Susilo also called on the two warring communities to end the
violence to create a conducive climate for reconciliation.

The central government has failed to stop the violent clashes
in the territory since they first erupted in January last year.
The clashes have claimed at least 3,000 lives, and have forced
240,000 residents to flee their villages and take shelter at
safer locations.

The number of refugees in the province is the second largest
after the East Timorese refugees in Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara.
(49/lup)