'It's impossible to bring total peace in Malukus'<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Noting the complexity of interests and
\nsecurity problems in the Maluku provinces, those responsible for
\nkeeping the peace there said it would be next to impossible to
\nestablish \"a zero violence\" situation in the troubled region.<\/p>\n
Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa and Maluku
\nPolice chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani, who both oversee security
\naffairs in Maluku and North Maluku provinces, recently talked to
\nThe Jakarta Post concerning the latest situation in the territory
\nwhich has been the scene of over two years of bloody conflict.<\/p>\n
\"Basically we are wary about the fragile calm in Maluku. Many
\ncontributing factors are involved here, from the social-cultural
\ncharacter of Maluku people who are known to have hot tempers to
\nthe fact that there are complex security problems and that
\ndistrust among all elements of society runs high,\" Firman Gani
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He cited the high level of the illegal possession of weapons
\nand presence of outsiders such as Lasykar Jihad as adding to the
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
\"The conflict in Maluku has not been handled properly by the
\ngovernment and has been allowed to roll on like a giant
\nsnowball,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The people's distrust of each other ran high, with both
\nMuslims and Christians being involved in a killing spree, Firman
\nadded.<\/p>\n
\"They are losing faith that the central government will help
\nthem to end this.. and at the same time many security forces'
\npersonnel are also involved in the conflict because, basically,
\nthe Maluku conflict affects all Indonesians. The police chief,
\nthe military commander, the governor.. all of us are emotionally
\ninvolved in the conflict,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Over two years of bloody communal violence in the Maluku
\nprovinces has resulted in almost total devastation for the more
\nthan 2 million people living in the ravaged territory.<\/p>\n
Before the conflict, the total population of Maluku and North
\nMaluku provinces was around 2.4 million. Around 8,000 people have
\nbeen killed and some 230,000 others have ended up as refugees,
\nnot only in the Maluku provinces but also in other provinces.<\/p>\n
Little progress has been made since the declaration of a state
\nof civil emergency on June 27, 2000, except for some reduction in
\ntension in North Maluku province.<\/p>\n
Sporadic violence and rogue shootings, however, are still the
\norder of the day in parts of Ambon and Seram islands in Maluku
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Yasa asserted that the geographical conditions of the Maluku
\nprovinces, the large number of illegal weapons in circulation and
\nthe presence of \"recalcitrant squads\" stirring up chaos were all
\ncontributing factors leading to the conclusion that \"violence
\ncannot be suppressed to the zero-level in Maluku.\"<\/p>\n
\"Ambon and Seram islands are relatively strategic, so that
\nintruders and assailants can easily reach the other areas, and it
\nis quite easy to obtain or to make any type of weaponry here,\" he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Yasa cited the incident that occurred shortly before the
\ndeclaration of the civil emergency last year when the police
\narsenal in Tantui was looted by rioters on June 23, 2000.<\/p>\n
Both Yasa and Firman agreed that the key to solving the Maluku
\nproblem was to reduce the involvement of rogue members of the
\nsecurity forces during conflicts.<\/p>\n
\"Effective and firm measures by the Joint Battalion drawn from
\nthe three elite military forces and regular rotations of duty
\nmust be imposed,\" Yasa said.<\/p>\n
\"In this situation we do not need evidence. All we need are
\nindications that a soldier or police officer is partial. Then
\nwe'll get rid of him. So far, I have transferred 600 police
\nofficers, dishonorably discharged 16 and imposed sanctions on 87
\nothers,\" Firman asserted.<\/p>\n
Yasa said that the Joint Intelligence Unit, comprising members
\nof Kopassus, Paskhas and Marines, would be pulled out of Maluku
\nin early March.<\/p>\n
\"Probably TNI headquarters have other plans. After that we
\nwill have to rely on the local intelligence unit. Let's hope that
\nno disturbances break out,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Firman further said that the security approach in the area
\nmust go hand in hand with the economic and social rehabilitation
\nof the provinces.<\/p>\n
\"Building houses may not be appropriate yet as the most
\nimportant thing at the moment is to restore their economic life.
\nThat is the only way they will forget about the conflicts,\" he
\nsaid. (Edith Hartanto)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/its-impossible-to-bring-total-peace-in-malukus-1447893297",
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