The Jakarta Post, September 18, 2002
Long promised prosecutors yet to arrive in Maluku
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Some 30 prosecutors the government promised to send to Maluku several months
ago are yet to arrive in the strife-torn province.
Head of Maluku High Prosecution Office, I Made Sunetja said on Tuesday that the
conflict-torn province was facing a serious shortage of prosecutors -- a crucial element
in law enforcement.
"We urge the Attorney General's Office to order those prosecutors to immediately
come to Maluku and carry out their duties here because the province is unable to
handle all law violations and other serious cases with limited prosecutors," I Made
was quoted by Antara as saying.
He refused to speculate the reasons why the prosecutors had not shown up. Early
this year, the government promised to send more prosecutors and judges to Maluku.
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said in June that senior
judges would be sent to Maluku to handle over 100 cases but there had been no news
about the judges coming since then.
Law enforcements issues forms part of a peace agreement signed by representatives
of warring Maluku Muslim and Christian communities in Malino, South Sulawesi on
Feb. 12, 2002.
The conflict, which has reportedly claimed more than 6,000 lives, scared off almost all
the prosecutors, judges and court clerks, working in the province.
Prosecuting those violating the law is considered a crucial phase in the peace
process but the authorities are faced with a serious shortage of judges and
prosecutors.
"There were only seven prosecutors at the Maluku High Prosecution Office, far below
the ideal number of 15, while there are only two prosecutors at the Masohi district
court in Central Maluku," Sunetja said.
According to Sunetja, there are 84 prosecutors assigned to 15 district courts in the
province.
Meanwhile, Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina said on Tuesday that poor law
enforcement had undermined efforts to put an end to a religious conflict that has been
beleaguering the province since January 1999.
"Law violations should be handled and exposed as soon as possible but unfortunately
there are still obstacles in addressing the problems," Latuconsina was quoted by
Antara as saying on Tuesday.
He refused to reveal problems encountered in enforcing the law in the province. "You
journalists already know the obstacles, I don't have to explain them in details," he
said.
He appealed to local people to help the law enforces in resolving the problems there
by giving information on what was happening in their respective communities.
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