Thousands attend signing of peace deal in riot-torn Ambon

JAKARTA (JP): Over 10,000 people attended the signing of a peace accord in the Maluku capital of Ambon on Wednesday which many hope will mark an end to months of deadly clashes between Muslim and Christian groups in the province.

M.G. Lailossa, chairman of the committee which supervised the drafting of the accord, told The Jakarta Post by phone from Ambon that the ceremony took place in front of the governor's office in Merdeka Square. Among attendants were Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto and Maluku Governor M. Saleh Latuconsina.

"Representatives of both communities and local religious leaders signed the peace accord in a solemn ceremony," Lailossa said.

The two-and-a-half-hour event was concluded with makan patita, a local phrase for a meal which completes peace negotiations.

"Makan patita symbolizes that the two conflicting parties have been able to forget what they have been through," Lailossa said.

He said dozens of other smaller ceremonies have been held in villages across the province in recent weeks.

A peace torch rally opened the ceremony. The torch had been paraded through riot-hit villages throughout Maluku.

"The parade started a few days ago in the Central Maluku capital of Masohi. The torch was then taken to Saparua, Haruku and Ambon," Lailossa said.

Wiranto said the peace pact should be upheld and respected by all parties.

"Those who breach the accord are traitors to their religion and traditions. No religion encourages enmity and no religion does not promote peace," Wiranto said.

Wiranto also said that Maluku would be given a separate military command for the first time in 15 years. In 1984, Maluku and Irian Jaya were brought under the supervision of the Trikora Military Command.

Wiranto said the reinstatement of a Maluku military command was expected to help promote peace in the province.

Meanwhile, Antara reported from the Southeast Maluku capital of Tual that local village heads and noblemen from across the islands of Kei Besar and Kei Kecil held peace talks in a meeting sponsored by a reconciliation team led by Col. Wais Niengkelua, an officer from the Trikora Military Command.

The meeting, held at the regency legislature, was aimed at establishing a perpetual truce and bringing an end to communal clashes which have claimed 130 lives there in recent weeks.

Police have arrested 43 suspects. The local chief prosecutor, I Made Wirata, was quoted as saying by Antara Wednesday that the first trial would open next week. He said 12 of the suspects were charged with murder.

More than 300 people have been killed since clashes erupted in Ambon in mid-January. Tens of thousands of people have fled to their ancestors' home province of South Sulawesi. Thousands more are still in refuge camps in and around Ambon, the provincial capital.

Maluku military commander Col. Karel Ralahalu said last month that at least 10,000 troops, including a number of reinforcement battalions from Java, would remain in Maluku until June 11. (byg)