The Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has carried out investigations, monitoring and mediation on a continuous basis with the aim of assisting the protection of human rights in Maluku, in particular through its visits in January, February and September 1999 and in January, February, April and July 2000. As such, Komnas HAM concludes:

1. The disturbance in Maluku has gone on for 19 months. The State has failed to overcome the siutation and conflict that has occured in this region.

2. Remembering that from the beginning the riots in Maluku have resulted in deaths that now number in the thousands and continue to this day, the govenment must place the resoltuion of this problem at the very top of the national agenda.

3. The government is obligated to take steps which are concrete and humane and which do not distinguish between religious, group or cultural backgrounds to help overcome the turmoil in Maluku, especially with regard to the internally displaced people from this crisis, the majority of whom are women and children.

4. As the government is not able to overcome this conflict, we are concerned that the international community will force an intervention which will only widen the conflict. Therefore, the time has come for the Indonesian government to consider international cooperation, with a preference for assistance from ASEAN nations, to overcome the humanitarian problem in Maluku

Jakarta, 2 July 2000

National Commission on Human Rights

KOMISI NASIONAL HAK ASASI MANUSIA

CHAIR SECRETARY GENERAL

HR. Djoko Soegianto, SH Asmara Nababan