The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government wants a thorough evaluation of the viability of
the civil emergency authority in Maluku owing to the fact that the
prolonged conflict persists despite the peace agreement.
Home minister Hari Sabarno told reporters after a meeting with
President Megawati Soekarnoputri the assessment was badly needed
to help the state of civil emergency work.
"There should be an evaluation of the structure, procedure
and the operation of the civil emergency ... to determine which
part needs mending," Hari told reporters after meeting
President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the State Palace.
Hari fell short of detailing the concrete measures the
government will take to help the provincial government restore
peace and order, as well as responding to speculation that
incumbent Governor Saleh Latuconsina would be replaced on the
grounds of incompetence.
"There is a mechanism to replace governors. The issue now
is: How should a governor of a territory, in which a civil
emergency is imposed, act? We still have a lot to learn," he
said.
Latuconsina's five-year term as the Maluku governor will
officially expire in November. He was named administrator of the
civil emergency after it was imposed in July 2000.
The governor has come under criticism for failing to exercise
his authority, as evident in the local military's refusal to
comply with his order to arrest Laskar Jihad leader Ja'far Umar
Thalib following the attack on Soya village on April 28.
Hari also reiterated that the government had no intention of
upgrading the emergency status to martial law.
Hari's remarks came after the President promised a delegation
from the Maluku legislative council to evaluate the way the civil
emergency worked in the province.
The Maluku legislators, led by speaker Z. Sahuburua, raised the
issue during a meeting with Megawati on Wednesday.
The President also agreed to the legislators' proposal to form
an inquiry team to investigate law violations that had occurred
during the three-year sectarian conflict.
Representatives of the warring Muslims and Christian groups
signed a peace pact on Feb. 12 in the South Sulawesi town of
Malino.
Also on Friday, Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that preparations
for the establishment of an investigative team were under way.
Susilo said the lineup of the team would be disclosed following
the President's approval.
"We (the government) realize that investigation into the
violations might raise emotions among locals. Therefore, we have
decided to investigate carefully, starting from the latest cases,
such as the Soya massacre or the bombing of the gubernatorial
office early last month," Susilo said.
Earlier, Susilo issued a directive that also orders the
dissolution of the Maluku Sovereignty Forum and the expulsion of
Laskar Jihad hard-line Muslim organization, the two organizations
blamed for fueling the conflict in Maluku.
Susilo further told Maluku authorities to enhance cooperation
with law enforcers to help end the prolonged conflict there. He
added a battalion of Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad)
will soon be sent to Maluku as reinforcements to help maintain
security there.
Meanwhile, a delegation of House of Representatives legislators
failed to land in Ambon on Friday due to thick cloud. Visibility
was reported to reach only 400 meters, far from the safety
standard of 2,500 meters.
Their flight was rerouted to Makassar, the capital of South
Sulawesi. The legislators will fly to Ambon on Saturday.
