Government told to work harder in Maluku<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): The government must work harder for peace in
\nMaluku as the significant factor behind the lingering sectarian
\nclashes is rifts among troops maintaining security in the
\nprovince, a scholar says.<\/p>\n
Gadjah Mada University sociologist Lambang Trijono said here
\non Thursday that the arrival of Laksar Jihad Muslim fighters,
\nparticularly those from Java, had also worsened the situation.<\/p>\n
\"These two factors keep the communal fires burning,\" he said,
\nadding that the Laksar Jihad's appearance in the province was
\npolitically motivated.<\/p>\n
He pointed to the most recent conflict in Maluku late last
\nmonth in the village of Wai, some 28 kilometers south of Ambon
\ntown.<\/p>\n
\"There is enough evidence (to say) that it was security
\npersonnel who started firing shots, while Navy personnel coming
\nto the area were quelled by volley of gunshots from armed
\npersonnel deployed in the area,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He mentioned the names of several top brasses in the
\nIndonesian Military who, in his opinion, were behind the Maluku
\nmayhem, along with those backing Laskar Jihad Force operations in
\nthe territory.<\/p>\n
He said that the government should mobilize all of its
\npolitical and economic resources to solve the region's problems.<\/p>\n
In Ternate, North Maluku, Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief of
\nStaff Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago warned of possible conflict ahead
\nof the establishment of the provincial legislative council and
\nthe gubernatorial election. Both events are scheduled to take
\nplace in November.<\/p>\n
\"The two events might rock the current peace in the province,
\nand the calmness could turn to fierce conflict if the troops fail
\nto take appropriate steps to deal with the situation,\" he told
\nbattalion commanders and other TNI officers here.<\/p>\n
\"TNI members must be well informed about the schedules of the
\nevents and maintain the (current) conducive situation to avoid
\nany possible conflict,\" Antara quoted him as saying.<\/p>\n
The political climate in North Maluku has heated up after the
\nprovincial chapter of the Golkar Party announced eight
\ngubernatorial candidates, including former deputy speaker of the
\nHouse of Representatives (DPR) Abdul Gafur.<\/p>\n
The Golkar Party office received bomb and arson threats last
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Chaniago was in Ternate after visiting Ambon to discuss the
\nsituation in the province after two months of a state of civil
\nemergency.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, he admitted having received reports of troops
\nbehaving impartially in the area. (44\/49\/sur)<\/p>",
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