A spiral of violence<\/p>\n
As the communal violence continues to drag on in the eastern
\nIndonesian province of Maluku -- the former spice islands of the
\nMoluccas -- it increasingly appears that even the authorities are
\nat a loss on how to deal with the unrest that has so far claimed
\nhundreds of lives.<\/p>\n
According to police records, almost a year after the first
\nskirmish erupted on Jan. 19, 1999, at least 657 civilians and 14
\nsecurity officers have died in intercommunal clashes in and
\naround Ambon on the main island of Haruku and elsewhere. Since
\nthen, clashes between communal groups have continued to flare on
\nand off and in different areas, but nevertheless with a
\nregularity that is disconcerting to say the least. In the latest
\nclash, which occurred last week on the island of Seram, at least
\n31 people died.<\/p>\n
With no sign of abating, the killing and destruction which has
\nbeen occurring in Maluku for nearly a year is terrifying indeed.
\nBut even worse than the mounting statistics are the pressures and
\nuncertainty which the strife brings to the local population.<\/p>\n
The natural question to ask in view of all this is, what is
\ngoing on in Maluku and how can the discord and violence be
\nbrought to an end? Violent intercommunal clashes, after all, were
\npractically unknown until January this year. Muslims and
\nChristians have lived in harmony on those islands for as long as
\nlocals can remember.<\/p>\n
The sad answer is that no one seems to know. Another and much
\nmore ominous possibility is that some people know, but are
\nkeeping silent for reasons of their own. As for the authorities,
\nthey seem to be as much in the dark regarding the situation as
\nthe vast majority of Indonesians. Consider, for example, a recent
\nremark made by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
\nAffairs Wiranto.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Jakarta early this month to a group of performing
\nartists from Maluku, Wiranto acknowledged that he was at a loss
\nabout how to resolve sectarian violence in their province.
\nAccording to Wiranto, the problem could only be solved by the
\nparties involved in the fighting.<\/p>\n
Who, though, are these parties? On the face of it the answer
\nmay seem clear enough: Muslim groups among the population on the
\none side and Christians on the other, instigated, perhaps, in the
\nbeginning by provocateurs. That, however, sounds like a gross
\noversimplification of the situation. For one thing, how to
\nexplain the fact that for so many decades, or even centuries, up
\nto the end of last year Christians and Muslims lived side-by-side
\nin perfect peace on the islands?<\/p>\n
For another, as the clashes continue, lives have been lost
\nfrom the various sides involved in the conflict -- not just
\ncommunity groups, but the police and military as well.
\nInevitably, this must have given rise to feelings of rancor and a
\ndesire to retaliate. And as the violence continues, such
\nsentiments are likely to spread in ever wider circles.<\/p>\n
This being the situation, it would seem that acquiring a
\nprecise understanding of what is happening in Maluku is the first
\nstep that must be taken in order to be able to plan a strategy
\nfor ending the violence and restoring peace in the area. The fact
\nthat a year after the first outbreak of violence analyses on the
\nsituation are still largely based on speculation could be taken
\nas an indication that our state intelligence services are not
\noperating as professionally as they should.<\/p>\n
Whatever the case, clearly Maluku deserves our immediate and
\nfullest attention. Unless a solution is found soon -- if
\nnecessary with the help of local religious and community leaders
\nand experts -- Maluku could be sucked even deeper into the
\nmaelstrom of violence, with consequences that are difficult to
\nforesee.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-spiral-of-violence-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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