Maluku peace accord draws mixed reaction<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government-brokered peace accord signed by delegates from the
\nMaluku Christian and Muslim factions in the South Sulawesi town
\nof Malino on Tuesday drew mixed reactions.<\/p>\n
Most participants in the two-day talks were optimistic that
\npeace would endure while others remained skeptical of the peace
\ndeal.<\/p>\n
Amboina Bishop Mgr P.C. Mandagi said he was optimistic that
\nthe talks would be effective in ending the conflict because this
\none differed from previous agreements.<\/p>\n
\"I'm very hopeful that it will be adhered to, there is no
\nother alternative except peace to end the conflict,\" he said on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
According to him, the fate of the talks would depend on the
\nsupporters of both sides and on government law enforcers.<\/p>\n
\"The situation in Maluku will peace to normal if the two sides
\nphase out their suspicion and accept the 11-point accord. And
\nthen peace will endure if both the government and security
\nauthorities treat all sides equally and enforce the law fairly,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina and Ambon Mayor Max Papilaya
\nexpressed their optimism, saying the accord was a starting point
\nfor Maluku to return to normal.<\/p>\n
\"We want to rebuild Maluku and Ambon together,\" said Papilaya.<\/p>\n
Ayip Syafruddin, chairman of the Forum for Communication of
\nAhlussunah Wal-Jamaah, a militant Muslim organization connected
\nto the Laskar Jihad milita, said the government must be strict in
\nenforcing the accord and the law.<\/p>\n
\"The two factions should not just stop with the accord but
\nmust also work hard to get the message to their supporters while
\nsecurity authorities must be diligent to prevent people from
\nviolating the agreement and the law,\" he said<\/p>\n
According to him, security authorities should take action
\nagainst the South Maluku Society (RMS) and the Maluku Sovereignty
\nForum, two separatist movements that he claimed had been
\ninstrumental in exacerbating the situation and inciting violence.<\/p>\n
Asked about the presence of the Java-based paramility fighters
\nfrom Laskar Jihad in the province, Ayip insisted the militant
\nMuslim group would not leave the province because their presence
\nwas required by Maluku Muslims for humanitarian reasons.<\/p>\n
\"We will not leave the province without clear and plausible
\nreasons from the authorities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indria Samego, a political observer from the Indonesian
\nInstitute of Sciences, said he was skeptical of the accord
\nbecause of hatred at the grassroots level.<\/p>\n
\"Both Christian and Muslim groups are still facing
\npsychological and physical obstacles to accept peace because they
\nare still traumatized by the three years of bloodshed. They need
\nmore time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indria also said the Maluku people wanted to see security
\nauthorities deal with all the things that have triggered the
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
\"The conflict has developed into a wide-ranging problem, not
\nbecause of the bickering of two youths of different religions
\nthat some say triggered the conflict, but on a much larger scale
\ndue to the deep-seated social underpinnings behind the conflict,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
A delegate who asked for anonymity, said that besides
\nmaintaining security authorities' neutrality, the government
\nshould encourage social justice by giving priority to indigenous
\npeople in Maluku -- mostly Christians.<\/p>\n
\"Social justice must be upheld for indigenous people in the
\nadministration and the private sector. Maluku people are
\nresentful that migrant people have played a dominant role in the
\nadministration and the business sector,\" he said, referring to
\nthe transmigration program which sent thousands of mostly
\nJavanese Muslims to the province over the past 30 years.<\/p>\n
Both Governor Latuconsina and National Police chief Gen. Da'i
\nBachtiar were of the same opinion that the state of civil
\nemergency would depend on the situation.<\/p>\n
\"The state of emergency will be lifted if the situation is
\npeaceful,\" said Da'i.<\/p>\n
Latuconsina said he asked the government to lift the state of
\nemergency but no positive response was given because of the
\nrecent riots in parts of the province.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maluku-peace-accord-draws-mixed-reaction-1447893297",
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