Jayapura: Two conflicting political campaign teams have agreed to make peace ahead of the regional elections in Tolikara regency, Papua, according to acting regent Alfons Sesa.
The peace agreement was marked by a meeting between candidates Usman Wanimbo and John Tabo at the Papua Police headquarters in Jayapura on Tuesday.
“The two candidates have hugged each other, shaken hands, posed for a photograph and pledged to end the dispute between them,” Alfons said after the meeting.
Alfons said that daily activities have returned to normal in Tolikara. “The situation has been secured,” he said, adding that the pair promised to hold a second meeting on March 2, when they would hold a stone baking ceremony.
Violent clashes, which caused 11 deaths and left hundreds wounded, forced local authorities to indefinitely postpone the election, which was initially scheduled for Feb. 17.