The Jakarta Post, 1/2/2003 6:28:20 PM
Riot-torn Poso ready to welcome President Megawati
PALU, Central Sulawesi (JP): Strife-torn Poso district in Central Sulawesi province is
ready to welcome President Megawati Soekarnoputri when she makes a visit on Jan
15, district administration spokesman Abdul Haris Renggah said on Thursday.
"The people of Poso are waiting, full of hope, and are ready to welcome the
President," Abdul said, as quoted by Antara.
He said this readiness to welcome the President had been indicated by society and
religious leaders from all over the district. "They not only vowed to maintain a peaceful
situation in Poso, (but) also wanted to decorate the district for the visit of the
President," he said.
Megawati is expected to see for herself the well-being of people in Poso as well as
celebrate National Social Solidarity Day in the district. "The celebration of Solidarity
Day will take place at Poso's Maroso square," he said.
Megawati is also slated to inaugurate the development of 10,000 temporary shelters in
the district.
Poso, located 215 kilometers east of the provincial capital, Palu, suffered communal
clashes for about two years from December 1998. At least 2,000 people were killed,
85,000 forced to flee their homes and more than 14,000 houses damaged during the
clashes.
Disputing parties signed the Malino Declaration in an effort to stop the bloodshed and
create peace. More than 14,000 people have returned to their homes in Poso since
the declaration.
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