Genocide incompatible with religion and faith<\/p>\n
The clashes in Maluku which have taken hundreds, maybe
\nthousands, of lives continue unabated. The following article is
\nbased on an interview with the Catholic bishop of Maluku,
\nMonsignor Petrus Canisius Mandagi.<\/p>\n
How do you explain the year-long clashes between Muslims and
\nChristians in the Maluku islands?<\/p>\n
The conflict must be placed in a wider context. We cannot view
\nit in a regional context only but in a national or even
\ninternational context. What President Abdurrahman Wahid said
\nabout it being the Maluku people themselves who have to bring
\nabout peace is true on one hand, but it is not 100 percent
\ncorrect.<\/p>\n
The root of the conflict is a power struggle. There is a
\npolitical undertone present. Those fighting for power are not in
\nonly Ambon. There are those living outside Ambon. Ambon is merely
\na means to attain their goals. It is similar to play on a soccer
\nfield.<\/p>\n
Who is involved in the struggle for power?<\/p>\n
There are three groups at play. The status quo group, that is
\nSoeharto and his cronies, is one. They want to recapture their
\npower. Or members of this group who feel they have been
\nhumiliated. They think they have been made into scapegoats. They
\nare being prosecuted, chased and dragged to court. They are
\nfighting back by creating conflict everywhere while diverting
\npublic attention away from themselves and to the unrest. It is
\nalso an opportunity to topple the new regime.<\/p>\n
The second group is the hard-line Muslims. They look at this
\ntransitional period as an opportunity to seize power from the
\nnationalists, which include Christians whom they believe have
\nbeen the real power holders so far. They have mobilized people
\nnot only in Ambon but also outside Ambon.<\/p>\n
They sent jihad troops to Ambon to dominate or to expand their
\nsphere of influence. I do not know where the people came from,
\nbut some outside troops allegedly attacked and occupied certain
\nareas and exterminated locals. Ternate is one example. We are
\nfinished there. Churches, schools and convents were torched.
\nChristians were evicted.<\/p>\n
Likewise on Buru island, both in the north and in the west. An
\nexception is the island's main town of Namlea where Catholics are
\nprotected by Muslims. Houses owned by Catholics are not burned
\ndown. Muslim youths stand guard at churches and parish houses.
\nCatholics are protected. But it is over for Protestants there.
\nThere was revenge on the part of Protestants. I strongly deplore
\nthis. Many Muslims were killed.<\/p>\n
The third group comprises military people. The military,
\nespecially the Army, is under fire because of alleged past
\nabuses. It has been discredited. Of course it wants to regain
\npower. Certain members create conflict so that the people will
\nlook to them to overcome it. I regret this. It is not the way to
\ndo it. The military should act in a professional way. It should
\nlove and protect the people. It should not use violence. Perhaps,
\nliving under repression and violence for 32 years has taught us
\nto use violence to achieve our goals. Whereas we should seize
\npower by way of dialog, democratic elections. Many still see
\npower as an instrument to maintain egocentrism, positions.<\/p>\n
President Wahid's proposed solution is to leave the matter to
\nthe Maluku people themselves. Which groups can still be brought
\ntogether?<\/p>\n
The unrest in Maluku has degenerated into genocide, involving
\nboth Protestants and Muslims. I think the first step is to put an
\nend to this violence, this genocide. There is no other
\nalternative but to turn to the military. We need the military,
\neither Indonesian or foreign troops. But we must still try to do
\nit with the military from home.<\/p>\n
Is the military still there and is it up to the task?<\/p>\n
It is still there. I told my fellow priests that while we may
\nnot agree with certain military officers we should not be against
\nthe military as an institution, it is the military that can
\nprovide security after all. The important thing is dialog, not
\nconfrontation. We should discuss the good things and the bad in
\nthe context of a dialog, but not to discredit anyone. I think
\nthat is acceptable.<\/p>\n
What should the military do at this point in time?<\/p>\n
I think it has to take certain measures, like mount a raid
\nagainst sharp weapons. This should be carried out in a
\ndisciplined way, not in an overbearing way like hitting or
\nstripping people. It should be done strictly and according to the
\nlaw. This should also apply to the confiscation of ammunition.
\nAnother important thing is the prevention of arms smuggling and
\nthe manufacturing of assembled arms or Molotov cocktails.<\/p>\n
Next, justice should be upheld. A court should try those who
\ncommitted mass killing, Christian and Muslim perpetrators
\nnotwithstanding as well as civilians or military members.<\/p>\n
Then comes the endeavor for reconciliation. In my opinion,
\nreconciliation attempts solely by the people of Maluku themselves
\nwill not work because grudges run too deep. There is a need for
\noutside intervention, from within the country or a foreign
\nindependent party.<\/p>\n
In the reconciliation process there must include open and
\nfrank discussions with an outpouring of feelings. There may be
\ncultural barriers, economic or religious injustices, or perhaps
\nweak local leadership.<\/p>\n
What kind of military leadership do you think would work in
\nthe current situation?<\/p>\n
To stop the violence, there is certainly a need for
\nprofessional military leaders. The leaders there now are in a
\ndifficult position. In my opinion a total change is necessary. It
\nis not because we dislike the present leaders. But they may be
\ntoo tired, too exhausted.<\/p>\n
What is needed is a new leader with a clear vision and mind.
\nIt may be that the existing leaders are so used to riots that
\nthey no longer have a sense of crisis. Therefore I think it is
\nnecessary to replace the governor, the military regional
\ncommander, the regional chief of police, the military district
\ncommander, the military resort commander, the regents.<\/p>\n
The regional government now is helpless, paralyzed. I think a
\ntransitional government is needed there. It should be directly
\nunder the control of the central government, answerable to the
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
Do you feel that there are clean military people who can
\novercome the conflicts?<\/p>\n
There are still some of them. We must support them. They are
\nonly human beings, like us. They get tired and need support.
\nTherefore we should continue to strive to relate with them.<\/p>\n
What is the role of religious figures, moral leaders like
\nyourself?<\/p>\n
We are helpless because anarchy has set in. We are only moral
\nfigures. People do not listen to us. Especially if a conflict is
\norchestrated. We are just pushed aside. People in the Catholic
\ncongregation, however, usually still listen to the voice of their
\npriests and bishops.<\/p>\n
Why were you accompanied by the Vatican ambassador when you
\npaid a call on the President on Jan. 5?<\/p>\n
For me the Maluku conflict is a humanitarian problem, a
\nproblem of genocide. It is not a national or international
\nmatter. It is a human problem. The Vatican is known in the world
\nas a fighter for humankind. I think the visit of the Vatican
\nambassador was intended to inform people about the concern of the
\nVatican about the killings. The presence of the Vatican
\nambassador was for me a symbol of the church's struggle for
\nhumankind.<\/p>\n
It was not because I wanted to involve another country. Or to
\ndenigrate Indonesia. No. I wanted to emphasize the struggle of
\nhumankind.<\/p>\n
To your knowledge, how many people have died?<\/p>\n
Thousands already. In the whole of Maluku, it is in the
\nthousands. I think more than 3,000 or 4,000. In North Maluku
\nalone the total has exceeded 2,000 in the past few days. It is
\nmore serious in Central and Southeast Maluku. It causes us
\nconcern. It is a crisis of humankind. (F. Sihol Siagian)<\/p>",
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