Economic, clean-governance approaches on Poso<\/p>\n
Ruslan Sangadji, Palu, Central Sulawesi<\/p>\n
Before President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono eventually decided
\nto set up a special Task Force for Poso, there had been a long
\nlist of major unsolved crimes, bombings, corruption cases and
\nhuman rights violations in conflict-torn Poso regency in Central
\nSulawesi. The President's decision has encouraged more people to
\ncooperate with the police. This process has also been assisted by
\nthe fact that people are tired of the prolonged conflict that has
\nclaimed about 2,000 victims from both sides.<\/p>\n
Muslims and Christians had tended to be reluctant to help
\npolice track down the wrongdoers as they did not believe that the
\npolice could guarantee their safety.<\/p>\n
Both sides also were also uncooperative following the
\nbeheading of three Christian schoolgirls in Buyung Boyo. Ustadz
\nAdnan Arsal, a prominent Muslim leader in Poso, recently handed
\nover Andi Ipong and Muhammad Yusuf to the police for their
\nalleged role in several incidents of violence. Adnan, however,
\nexpressed disappointment as the two suspects were transferred to
\nJakarta despite police assurances that they would remain in Poso.<\/p>\n
Led by Adnan, the Muslims then demanded that the Christian
\nside also surrender suspects to the police, and name 16
\nChristians suspected of killing Muslims. The demands were
\nrejected by the Christian side.<\/p>\n
Actually, both sides are becoming more aware that they are
\nbeing used by outsiders, but the problems are abundant, including
\nconflicts among local politicians and other members of the elite.<\/p>\n
Both sides are now demanding more power-sharing at all levels
\nof local government.<\/p>\n
The economic disparity between the native Christian population
\n(from the Mori and Pamona ethnic groups), and migrants from
\nBugis, Gorontalo, Java and Bali continues to widen. Migrants
\ndominate the economy. And the disparity is so yawning that no
\none will be able to narrow it even over the long term. The social
\nenvy will last for a long time as a result of the central
\ngovernment allowing people from outside to settle in the region
\nas part of the transmigration program.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, many migrants fled and abandoned their land after
\nthe conflict erupted. Indigenous people then occupied the
\nabandoned lands even though they had no legal title to it. The
\ngovernment should settle this dispute as it is only a matter of
\ntime before it causes another explosion of conflict.<\/p>\n
According to the 2004 census, the population of Poso regency
\nis about 276,000. However, following the formation of a new
\nregency, Tojo Una Una, and the fact that many displaced persons
\nhave not returned home, as of the end of 2004 the population was
\nonly about 176,000 people, spread out among 12 districts and 140
\nsubdistricts. Population density is about 20 people per square
\nkilometer. Poso city is the most populated part of the regency
\nwith 448 people per square kilometer.<\/p>\n
The number of Muslim population is 44.99 percent of the total
\npopulation while Christian 39.10 percent, and Catholic is 2.5
\npercent while the rest is Hindu and Buddhist.<\/p>\n
The area is also home to people from the Bada, Bungku, Kaili,
\nTojo, Manado and Toraja ethnic groups.<\/p>\n
For a while Poso seemed to be returning to normalcy. However
\nsituation here in reality is still very fragile as the roots of
\nthe problems have not been addressed.<\/p>\n
Local leaders here, including Yusuf Lakaseng, the coordinator
\nof the Poso Center, cited several major problems that need to be
\nsettle in short and mid terms.<\/p>\n
The first is corruption. The government must eradicate all
\nforms of corruption and punish those responsible for looting the
\nlocal treasury. They should be tried in Jakarta to avoid local
\ninterference and provocation in Poso.<\/p>\n
The four suspects in the embezzlement of humanitarian aid for
\nPoso, Andi Azikin Suyuti, Ivan Sidjaya, Agus and Abdul Kadir,
\nhave been flown to Jakarta to face the court. If convicted, they
\nshould also be imprisoned in Jakarta as their return to Poso
\nwould only trigger more violence.<\/p>\n
The President must establish an independent and inclusive
\nfact-finding commission to comprehensively investigate the
\nconflict. The current Task Force will not be effective as it is
\ndominated by officers of the police and military. They tend to
\ncover up the involvement of police and soldiers.<\/p>\n
Not only local people but also members of the security forces
\nhave committed violent crimes in Poso. Therefore, a security
\noperation alone will not be enough. Instead, it should be
\naccompanied by a welfare operation. An independent agency like
\nAceh's Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) could also
\nbe set up in Poso with a similar mission.<\/p>\n
The government also needs to solicit public involvement at the
\ngrassroots level in eradicating terrorism, crime and communal
\nconflict. In upholding order, the police need to deploy at least
\none police officer to each village or sub-district.<\/p>\n
The writer is a correspondent of The Jakarta Post.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/economic-clean-governance-approaches-on-poso-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }