The Jakarta Post, 5/29/2002 6:12:00 PM
Army chief calls on people in Maluku to surrender weapons
JAKARTA (JP): Army chief of staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto on Wednesday called on
all elements involved in the Maluku conflicts to surrender their weapons to the security
authorities, reports said.
Endriartono told the media upon his arrival in Ambon on Wednesday that as long as
people in Maluku still had weapons, it would be hard to bring peace to the province.
Maluku has been torn apart by bloody communal conflicts which have claimed atleast
6,000 lives.
"Therefore I urge people to quickly hand over the weapons ... because that is one of
the preconditions to stop violence in Maluku," he said as quoted by El Shinta radio.
Endriartono will officially install Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso as the new Pattimura
Military chief, replacing Brig. Gen. Mustopo during a ceremony in Ambon on
Thursday. (edt)
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