REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia contains 143 social-conflict-prone areas, according to the Disadvantaged Regions Ministry. "Indonesia has 183 disadvantaged regions, 143 of which are conflict-prone areas - many of them in eastern Indonesia," said the Deputy Minister for the Development of Special Regions at the Ministry for Disadvantaged Regions, Suprayoga Hadi, on Tuesday.

The roots of conflict are economic, socio-cultural, religious and political. He observed that there is a link between disadvantaged regions and conflict. "Conflicts or natural disasters damage the economy and many other facilities. Therefore, the development has to start all over again," he added.

He affirmed that his ministry will try to focus on conflict prevention. The ministry invited not only local governments but also local people to join in the conflict prevention efforts. "We will also organize a program for community empowerment, through which we hope to increase people`s living standards in these areas."

The Indonesian government and the EU will organize a national workshop on "Sustainable Peace and Development" in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on May 15, 2012. The workshop will seek ways to improve coordination and collaboration between conflict-affected groups, non-governmental organizations and several decision-makers at all levels of public administration.

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