Drifting toward disarray<\/p>\n
The country had barely begun to recover from the shock of the
\ndeadly riots that swept Jakarta's Ketapang neighborhood on
\nSunday, Nov. 22, before another blow jolted the nation. On Monday
\nthousands of people rampaged through the streets of Kupang, the
\nprovincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara, vandalizing property
\nand burning mosques, apparently in retaliation for the burning of
\nchurches in Jakarta. At least six mosques were burned or
\nvandalized and much property was destroyed.<\/p>\n
Mercifully, no human casualties have so far been reported in
\nthis latest incident. Still, in the climate of confusion and
\ndisorder that hangs over the country at present, Indonesians may
\nfind little comfort in this crumb of comfort. For the truth is
\nthat in both the Ketapang and the Kupang incidents, Indonesians
\nhave seen brother pitted against brother, often in deadly combat,
\nmerely because -- if appearances are anything to go by -- they
\ndiffered in creed.<\/p>\n
For many decades Indonesians have been taught to believe --
\nand to have others believe -- that theirs is the most tolerant
\nnation on earth. For many years, especially in the early days of
\nindependence, this credo did indeed seem to be true. Religious
\nand racial conflicts were rare, even though differences had
\nalways existed. Over the years, as the dividing lines became more
\nsharply drawn by the process of evolution, those differences
\nbecame more accentuated and things began to change. Even so, few
\nof us appeared to be ready for the jolt that has come with the
\nrealization that, perhaps, Indonesia is no more immune to racial
\nand religious conflict than other countries where such incidents
\nare considered commonplace.<\/p>\n
One may be tempted to ask what factors could have set this
\ndrift in motion. Whatever the answer, one thing stands out
\nclearly: diversity is one of Indonesia's most prominent
\ncharacteristics. Differences between population groups in this
\ncountry have always existed and will continue to exist. What this
\nimplies is that our unity as a nation is not something that can
\nbe taken for granted, but something that can be maintained only
\nwith perseverance and wisdom. It is in this context that one must
\nunderstand the calls that have been made by some of our most
\nprominent and respected community and religious leaders in the
\nwake of the latest incidents for government leaders and
\npoliticians to refrain from using potentially divisive issues,
\nsuch as religion in particular, as tools to achieve their
\npolitical ends.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been through quite enough bloody incidents since
\nthe fall of the New Order regime in May. The latest incidents
\nthat occurred in Jakarta and Kupang have brought this nation
\ndangerously close to the brink of disarray. People have become
\nsusceptible to all kinds of rumors and speculation. As distrust
\nspreads, different population groups are easily played off
\nagainst each another. Rumors of political shenanigans being
\nplayed out behind the scenes by mysterious actors are being
\ncirculated. All this could play into the hands of unscrupulous
\nmanipulators or politicians with agendas of their own.<\/p>\n
Unless these latest conflicts can be controlled and confined,
\nthe danger is far from imaginary that this nation will be plunged
\ninto chaos. Endless feuding between groups could ensue that would
\nsap what little energy the majority of us has left. It is to be
\nhoped that every Indonesian, whatever his or her creed, leaning
\nor political interest, realizes that what is at stake is not only
\nthe future of the nation as a whole, but that of their own
\nchildren and grandchildren as well.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drifting-toward-disarray-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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