Govt lacks resolve in settling Poso conflict<\/p>\n
The prolonged communal conflict in Poso, Central Sulawesi has
\nyet to be entirely settled despite government efforts in
\nsponsoring the Malino peace deal. Sulaiman Mamar, a professor of
\nanthropology at the Tadulako University in the province capital
\nof Palu spoke to Jakarta Post contributor Badri Jawara about the
\nroot causes of the conflict which originated five years ago.<\/p>\n
Question: Many peace deals have been made between the warring
\nfactions, either sponsored by locals or the government. However,
\nthe conflict continues. What is the cause of this?<\/p>\n
Answer: The conflicts in Poso and Ambon, Maluku province,
\ncould not be partially dealt with. The government and those who
\ninsist that the conflict end cannot act like fire fighters. There
\nmust be a systematic and comprehensive plan.<\/p>\n
Before the Malino agreements were signed, Poso local leaders
\nhad signed a deal witnessed by then president Abdurrahman Wahid.
\nBut, after that fresh clashes erupted here and there, claiming
\nseveral lives.<\/p>\n
The Malino deals were the result of a comprehensive plan;
\nunfortunately, actions to follow up the deals have been too slow.
\nTake the building of temporary houses for victims. Twelve
\nthousand houses were devastated and the Ministry of Settlement
\nand Regional Infrastructure prioritized 6,000 new temporary
\nhomes. However, only 1,000 were built in eight months. Aid
\narrived too late. These factors could trigger new clashes.<\/p>\n
Religion and ethnical problems could spark conflicts
\neverywhere. But don't forget that economic, political and socio-
\ncultural problems have also played major roles.<\/p>\n
The Minister of Home Affairs had promised to provide training
\nto local civil servants on managing the conflict, in addition to
\npromising financial aid. The Ministry has not kept its word.<\/p>\n
Q: Are natives of Poso violent people? Or are they merely very
\nparticular about differences in religion and ethnicity?<\/p>\n
A: The people of Poso did not inherit a tradition of conflict
\nfrom their ancestors. Clashes in the early 19th century were
\ncommonplace in this archipelago. Conflict of interest started
\nwith a rebellious group named Permesta (Pemberontakan Rakyat
\nSemesta -- The People of Universe) and the people of Manado
\n(North Sulawesi) who ruled the economy. The indigenous Poso began
\nto be marginalized at that time.<\/p>\n
The core problem is politics, related to religious affairs.
\nReligious and ethnicity issues can provoke anger very easily.
\nThose involved in the genocide were not the Pamona people
\n(natives of Poso). Those found guilty (by the court) in the Poso
\nclashes were all outsiders.<\/p>\n
Q: Religions have been used for political bargaining. How do you
\nsee this?<\/p>\n
A: Most of the Christian community had hoped that Yahya Patiro,
\nthe provincial secretary, would be promoted to replace Arif
\nPatanga as the Poso regent. Yahya was considered the most
\nappropriate person to represent the Christians. But, the ruling
\nGolkar insisted that Muin Pusadan, who is a Muslim, replace Arif,
\nwhereas the new provincial secretary, who replaced Yahya, was
\nalso a Muslim.<\/p>\n
People started to feel that their sense of justice was
\ncompromised, as there had been an unwritten commitment that if
\nthe regent is a Muslim the provincial secretary must be a
\nChristian and vice versa.<\/p>\n
Each (religious) group had interpreted justice from their own
\nshort-term interest. Therefore, there were many Muslims and
\nChristians who changed religions. The Muslims became Christian
\nand vice versa.<\/p>\n
Tentena, a small town some 60 kilometers from Poso, was set as
\na Christian area since the Dutch colonial era. The program was a
\nfailure since migrants entering Poso and Tentena were from Bugis,
\nGorontalo and Java; they were mostly Muslims.<\/p>\n
Initially the Christians outnumbered the Muslims there. The
\nmigrants then apparently balanced the ratio, sparking rivalry
\nbetween the two. The fact that the migrants were economically
\nstronger than the indigenous people triggered jealousy.<\/p>\n
Q: With the economic and political gaps between the migrants and
\nthe native people, is it reasonable for the local administrations
\nto be impartial?<\/p>\n
A: The conflicts would have not claimed any lives if the
\ngovernment had managed it quickly, and wisely. In this autonomy
\nera the local administrations can make regulations limiting the
\nownership of land and property.<\/p>\n
There must be a way to provide (landless) indigenous people
\nwith plots of land, just like resettlers who are given plots of
\nland and aid for some years under the transmigration program.<\/p>\n
The locals should be treated like that so as not to drive them
\nfrom their homeland, defeating the purpose of the transmigration
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
Q: What's the difference between the Poso and Ambon (Maluku)
\nconflicts?<\/p>\n
A: The structure of the conflicts and the cases are generally
\nvery similar. There were religious and ethnicity sentiments in
\nAmbon and Poso. The recent issue in Ambon was separatism ...
\nWhatever the case, the result is death.<\/p>\n
In Poso, the trigger was liquor. Later, groups of people
\nmanipulated the situation and developed a new issue: Religion. We
\nknow who was behind this, but we don't have hard evidence. I also
\nsee a national scenario involving political elites at the central
\ngovernment level. Some elites prepare a peace deal for Poso,
\nothers move against fearing that those preparing the peace deal
\nwill get promoted.<\/p>\n
If the government, the military and police had been sincere
\nand serious in settling the conflicts, the provocateurs and the
\nsnipers could have been arrested.<\/p>\n
Q: What would you recommend to end the conflicts in Poso and
\nother restive ares like Ambon?<\/p>\n
A: The security apparatus and law enforcers should act promptly
\nand professionally. The military or police should have sent a
\ngroup of qualified senior personnel to Poso, not new recruits.
\nThey simply lack the experience and wisdom to deal with this
\nissue. It's not their fault.<\/p>\n
The existing data on refugees is outdated, causing disruption
\nin the distribution of aid. The refugee handling must be
\nintegrated under the auspices of local social affairs offices. So
\nfar there are too many institutions involved in refugee handling.<\/p>\n
Q: At what level should improvement begin?<\/p>\n
A: People must be made aware that there has been a third party
\nbehind all this. There must be awareness at the grassroots level
\nto oppose provocation from outside. There must be built-in social
\nresilience among the people and it is painfully obvious that the
\n(local) people need empowerment.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-lacks-resolve-in-settling-poso-conflict-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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