§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent violence in the Moluccas Islands directed towards Christians and other minorities by the610W Liskar Jihad movement, and the breakdown of the Malino Peace Agreement between the Christian and Muslim communities. [70773]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienTensions remain high in the Moluccas with Christian and Muslim extremists trying to undermine the Malino Agreement. HMG deplores the continuing violence. The Indonesian Government is taking steps to improve coordination between the army, police and the civilian governor, including the appointment of a new regional military commander. A National Investigation Team has been appointed by the President to assess the progress of the Malino Agreement and to draw attention to areas of concern. We have offered to share with police officers in the Moluccas the UK experience of policing inter-communal conflict.
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the UK Government are taking to encourage the Indonesian Government to promote inter-faith dialogue between the groups and to prosecute persons responsible for inciting violence between religious communities. [70774]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe FCO is sponsoring a visit to Indonesia by a mixed-faith delegation of Westminster Parliamentarians from 28 July to 2 August. The visit aims, amongst other things, to discuss inter-faith initiatives in Indonesia. The UK Government supports the Malino Agreement for the Moluccas and encourages the Indonesian Government to pursue inter-faith solutions to cummunal conflict.
Indonesian authorities have arrested Laskar Jihad leader Ja'far Umar Thalib and Maluku Sovereignty Front leader Alex Manuputty, and are pursuing prosecutions against them. They have also sent additional judges and prosecuters to the Moluccas to tackle a back-log of criminal cases.