Fragile peace revealed<\/p>\n
The clashes that have shaken Ambon over the past two days
\nreveal the fragility of the peace that prevailed in the city
\nafter the Malino talks in February 2002. The signing of the
\ngovernment-sponsored Malino II peace pact brought to an end three
\nyears of bloody sectarian violence, sparked in January 1999 by a
\nseemingly harmless spat between residents.<\/p>\n
They also serve to alert us to the fact that the ominous
\nshadow of that earlier conflict still hangs menacingly over
\nMaluku's provincial capital -- and indeed, over the province
\nitself and over other conflict-prone areas such as Poso in
\nCentral Sulawesi. No less regrettably, they also demonstrate that
\nofficial assurances of the government's readiness to quell any
\ndisorders, anywhere and any time, must be taken with a proverbial
\npinch of salt.<\/p>\n
As far as is known, this most recent incident began when
\nsupporters of the South Maluku Republic (RMS), a separatist
\norganization banned by the government, were attacked by a posse
\nof vigilantes who called themselves Supporters of the Unitary
\nRepublic of Indonesia (NKRI). The NKRI supporters were ostensibly
\non their way home after being questioned by police about their
\ncommemoration of the organization's anniversary. Given the fact
\nthat the officials were obviously well aware of the RMS'
\nintention to celebrate their anniversary on Sunday, their failure
\nto prevent violence on that occasion is regrettable indeed.<\/p>\n
To refresh our memories, the January 1999 conflagration was
\nset ablaze by a seemingly innocent little dispute between a local
\nminibus driver and a passenger over the transportation fare. It
\nwidened in scope as the government failed to act swiftly and
\ndecisively and more and more people became embroiled in the
\nconflict. Ultimately, Christians were pitted against Muslims and
\nlocals against settlers. Thousands of people lost their lives in
\nthe three-year discord. In other words, the conflict was allowed
\nto expand from a simple argument between residents to wholesale
\nwarfare between groups exploiting the people's most basic
\ninstincts, such as religion and ethnicity. No wonder it took such
\nan enormous amount of time, skill and effort to end the discord.<\/p>\n
Apparently, having learned its lesson, the government appears
\nbetter prepared to face the present unrest in Maluku. Troops and
\npolice reinforcements have been dispatched to Ambon. Still, by
\nthe latest count, at least 21 people have died over the past two
\ndays because of the fighting and more than 170 have been injured.
\nOrder appears to have been largely restored, although normalcy
\nhas yet to return. Nevertheless, the danger of further flare-ups
\nin the future is far from imaginary unless the government moves
\nquickly to enhance the existing social-political conditions in
\nthe troubled area.<\/p>\n
The government's transmigration -- or resettlement -- programs
\naside, the increased mobility of people that has come with the
\ncountry's improved infrastructure over the past decades has
\nbrought with it shifts in the demographic setup of certain
\nregions in Indonesia that, in their turn, have led to friction
\nbetween the local population and settlers from other regions in
\nthe country. More often than not, socio-economic factors can be
\nfound underlying those frictions, although they may express
\nthemselves in disharmony of a sectarian nature. Indonesia being a
\nunitary state, its citizens, of course, are free to travel,
\nsettle and work wherever they like. It is the thankless job of
\nthe government, assisted by the informal leaders of the
\ncommunity, to ensure that peace, order and harmony are
\nmaintained, for the good of all.<\/p>\n
As for the situation in Ambon -- or Maluku in general, or
\nindeed any other conflict area in this country -- the
\ngovernment's immediate job is to see to it that the present
\nconflict in Ambon does not expand and widen once again and turn
\ninto a sectarian struggle. If that was allowed to happen, it
\nwould be once again the millions of people in that hapless
\nprovince who would suffer, and the good work of all those who
\nhave so tirelessly worked for peace in the area would have been
\nin vain.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fragile-peace-revealed-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}