JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri will soon issue
a decree for the establishment of an independent team to
investigate the causes of the conflict in Maluku, an official said
on Thursday.
"The team will be required to complete its work within six
months," Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf
Kalla said after a Cabinet meeting presided over by the President.
Yusuf said that soon after its establishment, the team would
study the issues involved in the Maluku conflict starting with the
clash on Jan. 19, 1999, and including the South Maluku Republic
separatist movement and other problems.
Commenting on the European Parliament's resolution on how to
settle conflicts in restive provinces, including Maluku, Yusuf
strongly rejected it.
The problem of Ambon (the capital of Maluku) should not be
internationalized," Yusuf said as quoted by Antara.
The European Parliament's suggestion for the involvement of
United Nations' special rapporteurs to investigate alleged torture
of civilians by the military was not necessary as the security and
political situations in Ambon had increasinglyimproved over the
last few months, he said. (hhr)
