Foreign aid to Maluku<\/p>\n
The Bangkok Post opinion published in The Jakarta Post of July
\n12, 2000, said \"Admittedly it was Jakarta's decision to send
\nthousands of Muslim migrants to the Malukus, and Jakarta must
\ndeal with the consequences.\" Based on this argument and the world
\nconcern about the death of Christians in Maluku, eventually The
\nBangkok Post concluded: \"Jakarta must accept foreign offers of
\nhelp for the sake of humanity and to avert accusations of
\nsupporting Muslims commit ...\"<\/p>\n
I can't stop thinking from where The Bangkok Post obtained its
\ndata claiming that Jakarta sent thousands of Muslim migrants to
\nMaluku. With Thailand being a close neighbor of Indonesia, The
\nBangkok Post should have studied the ethnic groups in Nusantara
\n(Indonesia). The Muslims targeted by Maluku Christians are ethnic
\nBugis, Buton and Muna (BBM), not Javanese or Madurese Muslims who
\nbecome transmigrants. They have been in Maluku for two to three
\ngenerations.<\/p>\n
As a migrating group, the BBM ethnic group is more dynamic
\nthan the local people, the majority of whom happen to be
\nChristian. Therefore the migrants always triumph over the others
\nwhen it comes to earning a living. This doesn't take place in
\nAmbon or Maluku only. In Singapore, the Chinese are superior to
\nthe Malays. On Java and in South Sulawesi, the ethnic Chinese are
\nsuperior to native people, and therefore ethnic Chinese are often
\nthe target of social unrest on Java and in the land of the Bugis.
\nEven the Betawi ethnic group has been almost \"displaced\" from
\ntheir own birth place in Jakarta and can't do much about it
\nbecause they have become a minority, like the ethnic Malay in
\nSingapore. The Betawi have long wanted the position of Jakarta
\ngovernor to be filled by one of their own, but their dream has
\nnever come true. Migrants are not to be blamed for such a
\ncondition. For the most part it's the natives' mistake. They
\nalways maintain their system with obsolete values and low work
\nethos. For example, the highest value of the Betawi is the haj
\nreligious title. So, for them it's a noble step to go on the haj
\npilgrimage by ignoring their children's education.<\/p>\n
The Maluku conflict started through a disagreement between a
\nMuslim and a Christian at the start of 1999. But it doesn't mean
\nthat the conflict in Maluku has religious nuances. It's just
\nsocioeconomic jealousy with a religious wrapping. By manipulating
\nthe socioeconomic sentiment as a religious problem, jahat (evil)
\nbecomes jihad, killer becomes hero and friend becomes enemy. I
\nthen remember Wilson's writing: \"It is said in the Bible the love
\nof money is the root of evil. It might be truer to say the love
\nof God is the root of all evils. Religion is the tragedy of
\nmankind. It excites to prosecute one another to claim for
\nthemselves as possession of the truth.\"<\/p>\n
Considering the premises voiced by The Bangkok Post are far
\nfrom the truth in the field, the conclusion it took was a big
\nmistake. Will the acceptance of European intervention soon solve
\nthe problem? Foreign intervention will just make the problem more
\ncomplicated. Muslims, fanatical and secular, would unite in one
\nfront as they would feel unjustly treated and they would not keep
\nsilent. They are not only incited by religious feelings but also
\nby nationalism, which would remind them of the Republic of South
\nMaluku (RMS) which was backed by European countries, especially
\nthe Netherlands. It might even become another Somalia or
\nYugoslavia. Therefore, ministers and priests had better stop
\ntheir efforts to seek European aid or any other country's beyond
\nIndonesia in solving the problem in Maluku.<\/p>\n
Temporary aid requested by Christians will be accepted in
\nNorth Sulawesi. If necessary go to Ciganjur and ask for President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid's help. I'm sure he will openheartedly accept.
\nIt's time now for every party to establish an attitude of
\nreciprocal belief and deliver their respective arms to the
\nauthorities. Religious leaders such as Islam scholars, ministers
\nand priests can certainly do something for the good of all.<\/p>\n
Solve the problem, don't create a new one!<\/p>\n
M. IKHSAN<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreign-aid-to-maluku-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }