Is martial law needed in Ambon?<\/p>\n
The recent upsurge in violence in Ambon, which was partly
\nprovoked by the flying of flags of the South Maluku Republic
\n(RMS) secessionist movement and reached its fiercest point yet in
\nthe village of Soya, seems to be indicting and mocking.<\/p>\n
Soya is located in a hilly area, and the fires caused by the
\nbombs that were set off there were so large that they could be
\nseen as far away as Ambon.<\/p>\n
The tragedy in Soya no longer seems to be indicting; rather it
\nis an indictment: look, the violence continues in Ambon.<\/p>\n
The sentiments behind the Malino II peace accord were noble
\nenough, but now that accord is being ridiculed and put to the
\ntest. Which is stronger: cooperation, peace and reconciliation,
\nor destruction, division and provocation.<\/p>\n
Ambon is not just Ambon or Maluku. Ambon is Indonesia. Yes,
\nAmbon is us, Indonesians. The conflict and violence that continue
\nthere have an impact on everyone in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Of course, the government, the security apparatus and we the
\npublic also learn a lesson every time more violence occurs. We
\nadmit that the process of the Malino II agreement is not yet
\ncompleted, and the violence has been incited by parties who do
\nnot want a peaceful solution to the problems in Maluku.<\/p>\n
Past experiences and recent developments, including the
\nviolence in the village of Soya, raise some urgent questions. One
\nof these is whether the civil emergency authorities are capable
\nof enforcing the Malino II peace accord in Ambon?<\/p>\n
Pursuing more effective policies and steps must be seriously
\nconsidered. One of these steps would be elevating the status of
\nthe civil emergency in Maluku to that of martial law.<\/p>\n
-- Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/is-martial-law-needed-in-ambon-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }