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Jakarta
ends state of emergency in Maluku
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THE
AGE - Melbourne
September
16, 2003
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Jakarta ends state of emergency
in Maluku
Ambon
Indonesia yesterday revoked a three-year state of emergency in the
eastern Maluku islands, where clashes between Muslims and
Christians have left more than 5000 people dead.
Home Affairs Minister Hari Sabarno announced the end of the
emergency during the inauguration of the new governor of Maluku
province, Karel Albert Ralahalu, in the city of Ambon.
Mr Sabarno said troops sent into the archipelago after the
sectarian violence would be withdrawn gradually.
"They still have a lot of work to do in other places,"
Mr Sabarno said.
The minister said he hoped the improving security in the region
would lure business people to invest in the Malukus. Jakarta
imposed the emergency on Maluku and North Maluku provinces in June
2000 after Muslim-Christian violence erupted in Ambon and spread
to other islands.
The emergency in North Maluku was lifted in May.
Under the civilian emergency, the governor held the supreme
command over the military and the police, and had the power to
stop people entering the province or any particular area, to ban
public meetings and to censor news reports.
More than 5000 people were killed and tens of thousands made
homeless in the violence that was sparked by a trivial street
dispute between a Muslim and a Christian in Ambon on January 19,
1999.
- AFP
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