Thousands attend signing of peace deal in riot-torn Ambon

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)