Hopeful, but not enough<\/p>\n
From the strife-torn eastern Indonesian province of Maluku has
\ncome encouraging news. National religious leaders representing
\ntwo of this country's biggest Muslim mass-based organizations as
\nwell as the Protestant and Roman Catholic churches of Indonesia
\ntold this newspaper that hopes for long-lasting peace after three
\nyears of deadly conflict are currently high in the province. The
\n11 leaders returned to Jakarta on Wednesday after a two-day visit
\nto the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon to bolster the peace
\ndeal between the warring Christian and Muslim factions, reached
\nin the South Sulawesi hill station of Malino in February.<\/p>\n
That this is more than a political gesture and that the
\nleaders are sincerely concerned with the situation in Maluku is
\nwell reflected by the mission's composition. The 11 leaders
\nincluded Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the nation's biggest Muslim
\norganization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU); Goodwill Zubir, secretary-
\ngeneral of Muhammadiyah Islamic organization; noted Muslim
\nintellectual Solahuddin Wahid; Indonesian Bishop's Conference
\n(KWI) spokesman, the Rev. Ismartono; Indonesian Communion of
\nChurches (PGI) leader A.A. Yemangoe, and Ministry of Religious
\nAffairs secretary-general Faisal Ismail.<\/p>\n
The information which the 11 leaders brought back to Jakarta
\nfrom Ambon, was actually neither sensational nor unexpected. The
\npeople of Maluku are sick and tired of waging a war of unclear
\ngoals. Therefore, the chances for enduring peace are very good,
\nNU chairman Hasyim Muzadi told the press on his return on
\nWednesday. This is also the reason, according to Hasyim, why the
\nparties who objected to the Malino deal are increasingly losing
\nsupport from their own compatriots as many of them have begun to
\nside with the majority pro-accord groups.<\/p>\n
All this of course is hardly news. The euphoria that was
\nexpressed by thousands of people in the city of Ambon recently to
\ncelebrate the rediscovered peace makes it abundantly clear that
\nthe people of Maluku have had more than enough of bloody warfare
\nand violence in a region that for many decades had been a
\nshowcase of peaceful living and harmony. So does the calm
\nrestraint displayed by the overwhelming majority of Ambon's
\npopulace to the bombing on April 3 and the subsequent burning of
\nthe governor's offices.<\/p>\n
And yet, those two incidents also make it amply clear that
\nlasting peace in Maluku still cannot be taken for granted. Sharp
\nand potentially divisive differences still exist. Since the issue
\nof religion is generally perceived -- though not necessarily
\nrightly so -- to be at the core of the years of conflict in
\nMaluku, the visit this week of Jakarta's most prominent religious
\nleaders certainly will facilitate the peace efforts. Still, three
\nyears of never-ending conflict under the banner of religion have
\ngiven rise to complications that are not easily solved. Religious
\nsentiments easily aggravate normally common rivalries and
\npeople's sense of justice is easily hurt. Religious sensitivities
\nare easily inflamed.<\/p>\n
Under such circumstances, enduring peace is only possible if
\nthe law is properly and impartially enforced; though caution
\nshould be exercised. The government's promise to take stern
\naction against the separatist South Maluku Republic (RMS) groups,
\nfor example, while justifiable, could trigger suspicions that the
\ngovernment is taking the side of the Muslims unless it is seen
\nthat real justice is being done. For this reason, priority must
\nbe given to the rehabilitation of the judiciary, which at present
\nis virtually nonexistent. Similarly, the impartiality of the
\npolice and the military in the conflict that has claimed an
\nestimated 6,000 lives and has lead half a million people to flee
\nthe area and become refugees, must be guaranteed.<\/p>\n
It goes without saying that the task at hand is formidable.
\nBut unless it is undertaken and a beginning made without delay,
\nall the achievements that have been scored so far to bring back
\nlasting peace to these once-idyllic islands could well be in
\nvain.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hopeful-but-not-enough-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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