---------------------------------------------------------- FREE for JOIN Indonesia Daily News Online via EMAIL: go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- The Straits Times, August 15, 1999 Peace Takes The Stage In Batam By GERALDINE YEO THE two warring groups on Batam island buried the hatchet in a big show of reconciliation yesterday afternoon. More than 1,000 people were in the amphitheatre of Carnaval 2000 at Batam Centre, the island's administrative centre, to witness the Batak and Flores communities embracing and praying for forgiveness together. They also recited a peace pledge to unite as one to end the strife, and waved their arms in unison as they sang a popular Indonesian song, Togetherness. A buffalo, a pig and a goat were sacrificed in the ceremony, and the groups promised on the animals' blood that they would not take up arms against each other again. This was the culmination of a week of activities to mend ties, broken when a Flores man tried to take over running a transport route that was Batak turf. He was tortured and left for dead on July 24. That incited his community to seek revenge. Attacks and counter-attacks escalated over three days, from July 29 to 31, prompting the military and the police to step in to end a bloodbath that had left more than 20 dead. Leaders of both communities had signed a peace agreement on the night of July 29. At yesterday's ceremony, 100 military men, half of them armed with rifles and sub-machine guns, stood by to enforce the peace with firepower if necessary. It was not. Both communities seemed to be intent on demonstrating their sincerity in mending ties. Cheers, applause and enthusiastic drumbeats melded as leaders of the two ethnic groups and representatives of all ethnic groups on the island entered the amphitheatre at around 4.20 pm. Mr Ismeth Abdullah, chairman of the Batam Industrial Development Authority (Bida) said the Batak and Flores communities had initiated this and other events to bring about better understanding among the different ethnic groups. He said: "Every village has now established an association of different ethnic groups, which will organise activities for all to participate. They realise that all of them are here in Batam to work, to look for a better life. "And they want to show everyone, especially the investors, that this is a genuine peace agreement." He said the violence had been provoked by certain people. Fourteen of them had been detained and were expected to be charged in court at the end of the month. Fifty among the Flores community had asked to return to Flores island in eastern Indonesia, and had been sent back at government expense three days ago. More requests were being processed, mainly from migrants unqualified for jobs in Batam's factories and who had been unable to get work. Among the guests at yesterday's ceremony were Mr Saleh Djasit, governor of Riau province, Batam mayor Abdul Aziz, and Mr Bambang Soeharto, vice-chairman of Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission. Such peace efforts, said Mr Bambang, could be a model for warring communities in other parts of the country. He added: "This event is a spontaneous show of their commitment to peace, and it comes from their hearts. "We appreciate this, and believe that others can also see from their example that human rights can solve all the violence in Indonesia." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 18 Aug 1999 jam 10:24:40 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
