AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Wednesday January 8, 2003
Maluku: Authorities seek help from tribal leaders to enforce
peace in Ambon
JAKARTA, Jan 8 (AFP) - Authorities in Indonesia's violence-torn Ambon island will
seek the help of tribal leaders to bring a complete end to years of bloody sectarian
conflict, an official said Wednesday.
"The meeting of rajas (tribal leaders) will be held on January 9-11 as part of efforts to
enforce peace in Ambon," said Jack Saimima, spokesman for the Maluku provincial
administration.
He said that apart from the rajas, who still wield considerable influence, educational
and cultural experts would attend the meeting.
A bloody conflict between Muslims and Christians was sparked by a trivial dispute in
January 1999. More than 5,000 people were killed and more than 500,000 others
forced to flee their homes until a government-brokered peace pact was signed in
February last year.
However sporadic violence has continued in Ambon island, where the provincial capital
is located. bs/sm/rcw
Copyright © 2002 AFP. All rights reserved.
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