Vice President fails to meet moslem and christian leaders jointly in poso

Palu, NU Online
Vice President Jusuf Kalla failed to meet Moslem and Christian leaders jointly to settle the conflict in Poso,  scheduled in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, on Monday (30/10).

Spokesman for the Central Sulawesi administration Jethan Towakit as reported by the national news agency Antara said the meeting had been cancelled because the Idul Fitri gathering and separate  meetings the vice president had held with the leaders of the two communities before had been considered sufficient.

He said the vice president had already ordered the Central Sulawesi provincial administration to facilitate the meeting between the leaders of the two communities to discuss technicalities of socio-economic recovery in areas of sectarian conflicts.

The meeting was cancelled because the vice president has other appointments to meet, he said.

The meeting between the vice president and Moslem and Christian leaders jointly was scheduled at around 8 am on Monday but the vice president and entourage had already left Palu for Jakarta at 7.20 am.

The vice president and entourage during a two-day visit in Palu had met with Moslem and Christian leaders on separate occasions. He planned to hold a joint meeting with them before he left for Jakarta but it was later cancelled.

In an earlier meeting with Moslem leaders it was agreed that a joint investigation team would be set up to investigate the recent clash between the police and residents in Poso.

The incident broke out on the eve of the Idul Fitri and left a civilian dead and five others with gunshot wounds.

Around 20 Christian leaders in a meeting with the vice president meanwhile had called for urgent economic recovery efforts and law enforcement. (dar)