Analysts doubt Ja'far arrest will end violence<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Analysts doubt the arrest of the commander of the militant
\nIslamic group Laskar Jihad, Ja'far Umar Thalib, will end the
\nbloody violence in Maluku because those directly responsible for
\nthe latest massacre remain at large.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Thamrin Amal Tomagola and rights activist Asmara
\nNababan urged authorities to disclose all details surrounding the
\nviolence and bring the perpetrators to court.<\/p>\n
\"The authorities have to enforce the law consistently,\" said
\nThamrin, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia (UI) here on
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
He was referring to one of the points agreed upon during peace
\ntalks signed in February by the rival Muslim and Christian groups
\nin Malino, South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Among the points recommended to restore peace were law
\nenforcement and the improvement of people's welfare.<\/p>\n
In the Maluku capital city of Ambon, police arrested three
\npeople on Sunday on charges of torching the governor's office on
\nApril 3. The city was quiet but tense as heavy rains fell.<\/p>\n
Ja'far was arrested at the Police headquarters here Saturday
\nin connection with the carnage in the village of Soya on April 28
\nthat claimed at least 12 lives.<\/p>\n
Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina has said Ja'far allegedly
\nincited Laskar Jihad militiamen to take action during a mass
\nprayer two days before the incident.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said perpetrators of the mass killing wore masks and
\nmilitary uniforms. They appeared to have military training and
\nwere equipped with military-standard M-16 rifles, bayonets and
\nhomemade bombs. The alleged attackers had to pass Christian
\nneighborhoods to reach Soya.<\/p>\n
Thamrin said the authorities must not stop with the arrest of
\nJa'far. Others too should be investigated, he said.<\/p>\n
\"They include Laskar Jihad, the incidents before and after the
\nMalino II agreement, and the separatist movement,\" Thamrin told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Ja'far was also arrested on May 4, 2001 on charges of inciting
\nhatred on a religion and imposing Islamic law on one of his
\nsupporters who was stoned to death. He was released on May 22
\nafter a court decided his detention was unlawful.<\/p>\n
There has been speculation that police and military officers
\ndeployed in Maluku were taking sides.<\/p>\n
Asmara, executive of the International NGO Forum on Indonesian
\nDevelopment (INFID), questioned whether or not the arrest of
\nJa'far was enough to show the neutrality and professionalism of
\nthe security forces.<\/p>\n
If only the police could maintain its consistency in dealing
\nwith Ja'far and his followers, any rumors about the involvement
\nof the security forces could be discounted, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Many people blame the security apparatus as part of the
\nconflict in Ambon due to their lack of neutrality and
\nprofessionalism. The security apparatus is also being condemned
\nfor their in decisiveness in taking stern action against other
\ngroups there.<\/p>\n
\"The police currently detaining Ja'far, as well as Alex
\nManuputty of the pro-independence Maluku Sovereignty Forum (FKM),
\ndoesn't mean that problems in Maluku will end ... That will
\ndepend on the police's consistency,\" Asmara said.<\/p>\n
Thamrin said that the recent bloody incidents were not purely
\nconducted by the local people.<\/p>\n
Asmara, who visited the Maluku capital of Ambon two weeks
\nafter the signing of the Malino II peace accord, praised the
\nChristians for not taking revenge for the recent Soya massacre.<\/p>\n
Thamrin said this had shown that the incidents in Ambon were
\nnot internal problems, but the problems brought by outsiders
\nincluding the Laskar Jihad, the separatist group, and the
\n\"unidentified troops\" who often joined in mass rallies.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/analysts-doubt-jafar-arrest-will-end-violence-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}