Amien says govt not serious about solving Maluku conflict<\/p>\n
Asip Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Amien Rais, Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
\ncriticized the government here on Saturday for not being \"serious
\nit its efforts\" to find a solution for the prolonged conflict in
\nriot-torn Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"Similar to the previous government, President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's government does not appear serious in dealing
\nwith the prolonged religious conflicts in Maluku,\" he said at the
\nopening of a seminar focusing on the future of Maluku Muslims
\nhere on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The former chief of Muhammadiya, the nation's second largest
\nMuslim organization, added that without the government's
\nassistance, the sectarian conflict will only be halted when the
\nconflicting sides kill each other off completely.<\/p>\n
He said he was deeply concerned because the government had not
\nyet taken any concrete steps to solve the Christian-Muslim
\nconflicts in Eastern Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"The conflict has now entered its third year, but what has the
\ngovernment done to stop it?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
He also lamented the fact that prior to the onset of the
\nintense fighting, the province had set a good example with regard
\nto religious tolerance in a pluralist society, and many
\nIndonesians were often pleasantly surprised that Muslims and
\nChristians could work hand in hand to build churches or mosques.
\n\"But now all that goodwill is gone after three years of war.\"<\/p>\n
He went on to urge all sides outside the province to
\ncontribute what they could in rebuilding the war-torn island as
\nwell as restoring the strong religious tolerance among the two
\nwarring groups.<\/p>\n
\"Any efforts to rebuild the province... should not be tainted
\nby the interests of certain groups. We must rebuild all of the
\ndevastated villages and subdistricts, regardless of their
\nreligion,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Lambang Trijono, a sociologist from Gadjah Mada University who
\nconducted several studies in Maluku, said no progress had been
\nmade in Maluku which could be dangerous in the future as the
\nconflicting sides were very far apart on many issues.<\/p>\n
\"It may be positive in the short term because there had not
\nbeen an escalation in the conflict. But, in the future, this can
\nbe very dangerous because the two conflicting sides might take an
\nopportunity to launch a major war,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Lambang also observed that no Maluku Christians were invited
\nto participate in the seminar and that could increase suspicion
\namong them.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, acting chief of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)
\nDin Syamsudin concurred and said that the government should
\nmediate in the conflict to rebuild a new life among conflicting
\nsides in the province.<\/p>\n
\"The government should be proactive in seeking efforts to
\nbring the two conflicting sides to hold meetings and to seek a
\npeaceful and permanent solution to the conflict,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also added ominously that there were strong indications
\nthat foreign parties were also taking part in the worsening
\nconflict, but stopped short of singling out any of those groups.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/amien-says-govt-not-serious-about-solving-maluku-conflict-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}