Indonesia vice president makes third peace mission to Moluccas
25 April 2000 (Newsroom) — Indonesia vice president Megawati Sukarnoputri is visiting the Molucca archipelago this week in a further attempt to diffuse tensions between Muslims and Christians that have resulted in an estimated 3,000 deaths since January 1999.
Megawati, who has made two previous peace missions to the region, arrived in the provincial capital of Ambon on Tuesday along with 10 cabinet members. She spoke to a crowd of thousands, declaring the government’s “strong intention” to end the conflict. Christian and Muslim representatives gave the vice president a signed statement of their desire for peace. Leaders from both groups contend that the violence has been sparked by extremists from outside of the region.
Megawati, the daughter of Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno, has been commissioned by President Abdurrahman Wahid to handle the conflict, but critics have accused her of doing little to help resolve it.
In Ambon the vice president visited a mosque and a Protestant church that are being rebuilt after damage sustained during riots. Silo Church, the main Protestant church in Ambon, was burned down on December 26 by mobs who attacked during a worship service. Witnesses claimed that army units with armored vehicles prevented the Christians from defending the church. As many as 500 people were killed in clashes during that week, according to Indonesian military reports. Indonesian press said it was the worst of violence of any religious conflict since the country achieved independence half a century ago.
Megawati announced on Tuesday that the navy would begin a two month-operation to help rebuild homes destroyed in the clashes.
The Antara state news agency said that Megawati next will travel to Seram island where four people were killed last weekend in sectarian rioting involving gangs. Since January clashes have taken the lives of 1,000 people on the island, just north of Ambon, and destroyed hundreds of homes. Local police said that 16 people were wounded on Sunday and two houses and a bus were set on fire.
Meanwhile, more than 200 Muslims rallied outside the United States Embassy and United Nations offices in Jakarta on Monday, demanding independence for Aceh, which has suffered years of separatist violence. Clashes between rebels and Indonesia security forces have claimed more than 300 lives since January. One policeman and four civilians were killed on Monday according to police. News reports also said that various villages and towns in the region were hit by six bomb blasts over the past several days.
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