Residents welcome destruction of arms - World - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

National Catholic Reporter, Jan 25, 2002 by Gill Donovan

INDONESIA: Residents of Poso welcomed the destruction of thousands of weapons recently surrendered as part of a peace pact to end the 3-year Christian-Muslim conflict in the region.

Residents and government officials witnessed the public burning of about 8,400 firearms and other weapons Jan. 7 in Poso, a town in Central Sulawesi province.

The initiative to destroy arms was part of the 10-point agreement of the Malino Peace Declaration signed by Christian and Muslim representatives at the end of their Dec. 19 and 20 meeting in Malino town.

Indonesian Police Chief General Da'i Bachtiar, among the officials present at the weapons burning, said he welcomes the move by the people to voluntarily surrender their weapons.

However, he expressed dissatisfaction that they surrendered only homemade and traditional weapons and none of the automatic rifles reportedly in their possession.

The national police chief expressed hope that all weapons will be handed over to the police by Feb. 7, the deadline set by the peace pact.

According to the Poso district government, 97,655 people have been displaced, 15,591 houses destroyed and about 2,000 people killed since the sectarian conflict broke out in December 1998.

Local media have reported that the situation in Poso is gradually returning to normal, following the signing of the peace pact.

They say the majority of both local Muslims and Christians have resumed their daily activities, that public services are functioning again and that schools, most shops and markets have resumed operations.