The Jakarta Post, 6/11/2002 2:19:49 PM
VP arrives in strife-torn Ambon in peace drive
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Vice President Hamzah Haz arrived in Ambon capital of restive
Maluku province on Tuesday for talks intended to forge peace and end sectarian
violence that have been raging here for more than three years, reports said.
Hamzah, accompanied by 80 officials including several ministers, was met at Ambon
Pattimura airbase around noon by Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina, Pattimura
Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso and Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen.
Soenarko D.A. as well as Maluku legislators, AFP reported.
Traveling with him were National Police chief General Da'i Bachtiar, Resettlement and
Infrastructure Minister Soenarno, Religious Affairs Minister Said Agil Munawar, Health
Minister Ahmad Sujudi and the president's Military Secretary Maj. Gen. Tubagus
Hasanuddin.
Also taking part in the visit is chairman of the Islamic Defender Front (FPI) Habib
Rizieq Shihab.
The vice president is due to visit Soya village where 13 people were killed during an
armed attack in April, and hold talks with local religious and community leaders at the
military headquarters in Ambon, according to his official schedule.
Hamzah will meet other religious and community leaders at aforestry office which has
accommodated the local provincial administration since the governor's office was
torched last month.
Hamzah is also due to perform an afternoon prayer at the Al Fatah main mosque here
and attend an official ceremony at the mosque, where Muslim fighters will hand over
weapons and explosives.
Officials have said that Hamzah's visit to Ambon was in a bid to "find a solution for the
long conflicts in Maluku and to follow up past government efforts" to end the sectarian
violence there.
Muslims and Christians in the Maluku islands battled repetitively for three years until
a peace pact was signed in February. More than 5,000 people were killed and half a
million made homeless in Maluku alone, excluding North Maluku province.
Tension returned to the area after the attack on Soya village.
The vice president is due to return to the capital Tuesday evening.
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