Ethnic hatred, poverty spell bloodshed<\/p>\n
As if sitting on a volcano, the residents who live along Jl.
\nMatraman have to be ready for an outbreak of fighting to erupt at
\nany time.<\/p>\n
The first incident can be traced back to the early 1950s when
\ngroups of KNIL members -- an Indonesian army recruited and
\ntrained by the Dutch -- were forced to leave the Berlan housing
\ncomplex as thousands of Indonesian Military (TNI) troops from
\nCentral and East Java came in.<\/p>\n
Although the KNIL soldiers, whose members consisted mostly of
\nAmbonese, were later integrated into the TNI, their members had
\nto live temporarily in Jl. Matraman, across from the Berlan
\ncomplex, while waiting for permanent housing.<\/p>\n
However, alternative housing was never found and the dwelling
\nbecame permanent, later to become known as Kampung Ambon.<\/p>\n
Inflamed by historical and ethnic prejudices, both groups were
\ninvolved in heated brawls and battles over the following three
\ndecades.<\/p>\n
The conflicts died down, temporarily, in 1987, when Kampung
\nAmbon people moved out.<\/p>\n
However, over next few years new conflicts emerged between
\nBerlan residents in the Kebon Manggis district and residents of
\nTegalan, Palmeriam and Kayumanis subdistricts, all in the
\nMatraman district.<\/p>\n
"The economics and pride were the motives that lay behind most
\nof the fights. Our youth would get involved in fights with youths
\nfrom other subdistricts over who was in charge of taking parking
\nfees along Jl. Matraman, while students from both sides of the
\nroad fight over other trivial matters," said Mande Darmani, an
\ninfluential figure in the Berlan complex.<\/p>\n
After a string of clashes, the fights reached a peak in April
\n2000 when at least eight people died and dozens of houses and
\nbuildings were burned, sidelining the police and the soldiers who
\ntried to stop them.<\/p>\n
"Both sides attacked us. We were confused at the time. We
\ncould only put down the conflicts temporarily. After we left they
\nwould start fighting each other again," a police officer said.<\/p>\n
As the conflicts became national headlines, the government
\nlooked at many ways to try and resolve the conflict, including
\nthe establishment of a "communications forum" for both sides and
\nby placing a 3-meter fence in the middle of the road, which only
\nworked for three months. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ethnic-hatred-poverty-spell-bloodshed-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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