Low profile peacemakers toil for reconciliation<\/p>\n
People have lost count of the number of ceremonies officials
\nhave thrown to celebrate government-brokered peace deals struck
\nbetween warring Christians and Muslims. Unfortunately, renewed
\nfighting usually erupts again before the ink has had time to dry.<\/p>\n
Learning from the failures, peacemakers from both neutral and
\nconflicting sides continue. Without much fanfare, non-
\ngovernmental and religious groups, with the help of international
\norganizations, have joined forces to make peace last in
\ndevastated Maluku.<\/p>\n
It is widely perceived that the sectarian conflict has
\nspiraled out of control because the government and the military
\nhave made it a political commodity at the expense of the people.<\/p>\n
The various failed peace deals have been made with government
\nintervention and with the role of \"outsiders\" who know little of
\nthe root of the problem.<\/p>\n
\"Some people from outside Maluku, who have no real relations
\nwith the locals, have acted like heroes,\" said Yusran Leitupa, an
\nactivist at the Center for Peace Building Studies (PSPP). \"The
\nsad reality is that the real community leaders were not
\ninvolved.\"<\/p>\n
\"Peace agreements collapse all the time because government
\nofficials and leaders involved lack legitimacy. They are wrong to
\nforce the warring sides to make instant peace after such intense
\nenmity,\" he said.<\/p>\n
PSPP focuses on conflict management. With 11 core members, it
\ntargets students, journalists, refugee camp coordinators and
\ncommunity leaders.<\/p>\n
Various community-based groups and individuals, both Christian
\nand Muslim, are trying a different approach. Their basic
\nassumption is that peace must begin at the grass roots. Their aim
\nis to essentially instill an awareness of peace and tolerance.<\/p>\n
The strongest group is Care for the Children Network (JPA), a
\ngroup of local women activists from both Christian and Muslim
\ncommunities who defend the rights of children and counsel
\nchildren and adults for trauma.<\/p>\n
Their hard work has been attributed to the growing trust among
\nordinary people from the two communities. In some areas of Ambon
\ncity, more and more people are brushing shoulders at
\n\"reconciliation markets\" built in neutral zones.<\/p>\n
\"I think people are increasingly aware they need each other
\nfor a meaningful life and they are not easily instigated to hate
\nothers in the name of religion,\" said Baihajar Tualeka, a Muslim
\nactivist who concentrates on Muslim refugee camps in the area.<\/p>\n
Care for the Children Network also focuses on teaching
\nchildren about the meaning of living in harmony with others who
\nembrace a different religion. Children from rival communities are
\nbrought together for common activities in neutral zones.<\/p>\n
A major undertaking of activists, officials and UNICEF has
\nbeen the Maluku Children Congress, which was held in Ambon from
\nJuly 19 to July 22. The congress culminated in the celebration of
\nNational Children's Day, when 750 Muslim and Christian children
\nfrom throughout Maluku amassed at Baileo Oikumene hall, Maranatha
\nchurch.<\/p>\n
Children account for about one-third of the 300,000 displaced
\npeople forced to live in temporary camps scattered in Ambon.<\/p>\n
The focus on children in peace building has received a boost
\nfrom a recent UNICEF-commissioned survey by Yap Winarto in 94
\nschools throughout Maluku. The survey found that 72 percent of
\nrespondents missed their classmates from different religions and
\n77 percent harbored no hatred toward their friends from different
\nreligions, even after riots have taken place.<\/p>\n
But in some schools on Buru and Seram islands, between 67
\npercent and 86 percent of respondents said they hated their
\nclassmates from different religions. However, on average, an
\noverwhelming proportion of respondents have no problem with
\nfriends from another religion.<\/p>\n
JPA is also helping the establishment of the Children's
\nParliament, a 13-member institution of children from different
\nreligions aimed at strengthening the protection of children's
\nrights.<\/p>\n
\"It is important that children have a voice to make sure their
\nrights are respected,\" said chief of UNICEF's Maluku office Frans
\nPetutschnig.<\/p>\n
Children from the two rival communities are brought together
\nfor meaningful activities. At the provincial public library,
\nwhich lies in a neutral zone, children sit side by side taking
\npart in a computer course.<\/p>\n
They mingle freely in the library for common activities now
\nthat the continued conflict has brought the mobile library
\nprogram to a standstill.<\/p>\n
\"Children can easily understand our messages of peace and can
\nput it into practice,\" Baihadjar said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/low-profile-peacemakers-toil-for-reconciliation-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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