Indonesia must end the violence<\/p>\n
Indonesia's first steps towards democracy have been halting.
\nCitizens of the world's fourth most populous nation have embraced
\nthe chance to make their government accountable. But neither
\nIndonesians nor their elected officials seem willing to take the
\nsteps necessary to end the dangerous and destabilizing violence.<\/p>\n
If Indonesia is to have a serious chance of developing into a
\nfree, democratic nation, it must stop the terrible violence that
\nhas wracked the islands for the past year.<\/p>\n
In recent days, the worst strife has been between Christians
\nand Muslims in and around Ambon. Parts of the Maluku province
\nhave been made into armed camps of the two religious factions. In
\nMaluku and North Maluku provinces, formerly known as the Spice
\nIslands, hundreds of people have been slaughtered. Feelings are
\nbitter, resentment runs deep.<\/p>\n
Apart from the deaths and uprooted Indonesians, one of the
\nsaddest aspects has been the response of the Indonesian
\ngovernment -- or, more correctly, the lack of effective response.
\nThe great violence in the Malukus, in Aceh, in Irian Jaya and
\nelsewhere was well known during last year's election campaign.
\nIndeed, the main presidential candidates all promised to end the
\nviolence. They all promised to deal with the root causes of the
\nkillings. To this day, they have failed badly.<\/p>\n
Last week's Jakarta protests should give everyone cause for
\nconcern. Participants spoke of a jihad, or holy war, unless
\nChristians in the Malukus stopped fighting. This alarming
\nrhetoric obviously took no notice of the fact it takes two to
\ntango. It is time for all sides -- ethnic, religious, regional --
\nto pause, think and consider the futures of their communities,
\ntheir islands and their nation. Authorities must deal more
\nquickly, and fairly, to end sectarian and religious violence. In
\nthe Maluku area and elsewhere, the leaders elected in last year's
\ndemocratic revolution must take up their responsibility: to lead.<\/p>\n
-- The Bangkok Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-must-end-the-violence-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }