The Jakarta Post, 8/25/2005 6:58:36 PM
Maluku peace agreement evaluated
JAKARTA (Antara): Muslim and Christian representatives from Maluku met here on
Thursday to evaluate a peace agreement they signed on Feb. 12, 2002, to end three
years of sectarian violence that claimed more than 6,000 lives and displaced some
700,000 people.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who mediated the peace talks in 2003 as the coordinating
minister for people's welfare, said the meeting was being held to gather information on
the latest developments in the agreement.
"Besides getting the latest information and strengthening their ties, the meeting is
aimed mainly at soliciting truthful contributions on the settlement of the conflict in
Maluku," Kalla said.
Also present at the meeting, which was attended by dozens of noted Maluku figures,
were Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu, former Maluku governor Saleh
Latuconsina, former Maluku Legislative Council speaker Ety Sahuburua, Abdul
Wahab Abubakar Polpoke, Thamrin Ely and Monsigneur Petrus Mandagi.
Kalla said that back in 2002 he asked the two communities whether they wanted
peace or wished to continue the violence. If they wanted to revive their conflict, Kalla
said at the time, he was ready to supply them the weapons they needed to kill each
other. The representatives of the opposing factions instead chose to sign the peace
deal. (**)
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