Ethnic conflicts pose complex problem: Scholars<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The recent spate of ethnic conflicts constitutes
\na very complex problem, needing careful management in order to
\npreserve the multi-ethnic country, according to noted
\nintellectuals.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish Madjid, an influential Muslim figure, said here on
\nTuesday that the increasing number of ethnic and sectarian
\nconflicts had a lot to do with the growth of communalism among
\ncertain ethnic groups, as well as widening social disparity and
\npolitical instability.<\/p>\n
"Despite modernity, the phenomenon of communalism, with its
\nnegative effects, is employed among certain ethnic groups to
\nmaintain their existence. Pluralism is just an 'ism', but more
\nand more people are not aware of it. We are still witnessing the
\npeople of one ethnic group killing those of another, burning
\ntheir heads and eating their hearts," he said in a seminar on
\nethic and religious harmony, which also featured Arief Budiman,
\nchief of Indonesian studies at the University of Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish, also rector of the Islamic Paramadina University,
\nsaid that widening economic and cultural disparity and the
\nongoing political instability have also contributed to the ethic
\ntension.<\/p>\n
"Almost all regions whose followers derive from various ethnic
\npopulations are extremely vulnerable to ethnic and religious
\nconflicts, which can be triggered by simple and private disputes.
\nHowever, widening social disparity and political instability have
\nreally been behind the conflicts," he said, referring to the
\ndisputes in Aceh and Irian Jaya, as well as the recent conflicts
\nin Sambas and Sampit in Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish also blamed the former repressive New Order regime
\nfor the current ethnic and religious conflicts, saying that,
\nalthough the strife has erupted in the current era, they were
\nmerely inhibited from surfacing in the past.<\/p>\n
"The conflicts were not resolved, but subdued through
\nrepressive measures, only rising to the surface during the
\npresent environment, where the government is weak and the law is
\nnot respected," he said.<\/p>\n
Arief Budiman concurred, saying the rampant ethnic and
\nsectarian tension was also associated with the repressive
\nmilitary regime.<\/p>\n
"The repressive military culture, which has been developed
\nsince the New Order era, has contributed to the rampant ethnic
\nand religious conflicts in Indonesia today. If a civilian attacks
\na serviceman it is seen as an attack on his or her corps," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Arief, a critic of former president Soeharto's regime, said he
\nbelieved the military's repressive culture had contributed to the
\nongoing violent tension in Aceh, Maluku and North Maluku.<\/p>\n
He said most ethnic tension was caused by external factors.<\/p>\n
"The anti-Chinese sentiment has been developed, not because
\npeople of Chinese descent speak their own language or are an
\nexclusive group, but because they are held as scapegoats for the
\neconomic and political crisis," he said.<\/p>\n
According to him, Indonesia must phase out the repressive
\nmilitary culture to minimize sectarian conflict.<\/p>\n
He said that, despite the military's tarnished image, it is
\nactually still very powerful, reflected by the absence of its
\ngood will in helping resolve ethnic conflicts peacefully.<\/p>\n
Merle Ricklefs, director of the Melbourne Institute of Asian
\nLanguage and Societies, said that moral authorities, especially
\nreligious and informal leaders, should set good examples for a
\nmoderate attitude among the people.<\/p>\n
"Pluralism must be nationally accepted and maintained to
\nadvance a multiethnic country," he said. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ethnic-conflicts-pose-complex-problem-scholars-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}