President responsible for preserving peace: Kalla

Vice President Jusuf Kalla says the President is responsible for maintaining peace in conflict-prone regions such as Aceh and Papua.

Kalla said the government, in this case the President, could preserve a sustainable peace if it managed to significantly improve the welfare of people in the conflict-prone regions and fulfill their basic rights, such as education and access to health services.

“The government must also continuously develop labor-intensive industries to eradicate unemployment,” he said on the sidelines of the inauguration of a new office building of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) for south, west and southeast Sulawesi (Sulselbara) in Makassar on Saturday.

He called on people to support the government’s peace-building efforts by maintaining unity and brotherhood among themselves.

Kalla, a key figure behind the peace agreements in Maluku, Poso in Central Sulawesi, and Aceh, promised to continue contributing to peace preservation when he relinquishes his post as the vice president.