Vice President: Economic Recovery in Maluku is Urgent

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Vice President Hamzah Haz says that economic recovery activities must be started immediately in Maluku following the signing of the peace agreement in Malino. “If there are no economic activities, then this could trigger a new conflict,” the Vice President said today (13/2) at the opening of the National Workshop of Youth Employment at the Medan Merdeka Selatan Palace. The Vice President went on to say that it was social imbalance which had triggered the sectarian conflict. It is necessary therefore that efforts be made to prevent any fresh outbreaks of violence. Hamzah said there could be fresh conflicts if economic recovery was ignored. As the unemployment level is high in Maluku now, people could easily be provoked. “We have to prevent this happening,” he said firmly. The Vice President went on to say that small- and medium-sized enterprises as well as cooperatives should be supported in order to help revive the regional economy. He also pointed out the importance of building the education sector in Maluku. Hamzah called on all those involved to forget the past. “We have to focus on the future and I believe there are no problems that we cannot handle. The conflict has already claimed many lives, so we must learn from the past in order that it doesn’t happen again,” he said. According to Hamzah, the results of the recent Malino peace talks were a multiplier effect following on from the previous peace talks held to solve problems in Poso. The government is certainly doing its best to ensure that all conflicts can be resolved during this year so that economic recovery can start in the regions involved. In other words, peace agreements must be followed by economic activities. As previously reported, Moslem and Christian factions in Maluku agreed to end the conflict with the signing an agreement in Malino on Tuesday (12/2). Following this, it is hoped that infrastructure, security, and the economy in the region can be back to normal within a year. Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Jusuf Kalla, who was the mediator of the Malino peace talks, said that the government promised to implement recovery efforts in Maluku as soon as possible.