AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Tuesday December 11, 2001 5:46 PM
Indonesia to hold Central Sulawesi reconciliation meeting
JAKARTA, Dec 11 (AFP) - Indonesian authorities are to hold a meeting to gather
representatives of the rival Muslim and Christian camps in the province of Central
Sulawesi, the scene of intermittent clashes since May last year, police said Tuesday.
Deputy National Police Chief for Operations, Commissioner General Syahruddin
Pagar Alam told the Antara news agency that Coordinating Minister for People's
Welfare Jusuf Kalla is planning to hold the meeting on December 18 in Malino, a
resort town in South Sulawesi.
Alam, who could not be immediately reached, said that the meeting would be part of
efforts to reconciliate the warring camps in Poso district of Central Sulawesi.
Intermittent violence between Muslims and Christian in Poso districts have forced the
government to launch a security operation to restore law and order there this month.
More than 300 people have died in the violence since May last year.
But Reverend Damanik, a district Christian leader from Tentena, south of Poso, said
an invitation had been sent to him by Kalla's office for him to attend talks in Jakarta on
December 13.
"Nothing was mentioned about the purpose of the talks in the invitation, but I plan to
attend the meeting," Damanik told AFP from Tentena.
Yudhoyono has said while visiting Poso and Tentena last week that the government
will launch the security operation to disarm the warring camps and restore peace, law
and order as well as promote reconciliation and the rebuilding of the district, heavily
damaged in the violence.
Alam said that two battalions each from the police and the military since December 1
to take part in the operation. One battalion consists of at least 600 men.
Renewed sectarian violence erupted last month following a three-day attack on
Christian villages in Poso district by armed Muslim gangs.
Copyright © 2001 AFP. All rights reserved.
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