Standoff in Maluku<\/p>\n
The government is gravely mistaken in assuming that the
\nsectarian conflict in Maluku has ebbed or even been resolved just
\nbecause there have been fewer clashes between Christians and
\nMuslims in recent weeks. Ambon and the surrounding islands are
\nonly experiencing an eerie peace which has been imposed by the
\nlayers of troops segregating the two communities. For most people
\nin Maluku, life has barely returned to normal. They can hardly
\nexpect to return to the days when Muslims and Christians lived
\nharmoniously side by side unless they find answers to some of the
\nriddles that have troubled the nation ever since the first clash
\nerupted in Ambon in January 1999.<\/p>\n
To this day, no one has come up with a satisfactory answer to
\nthe question of why the conflict erupted. Nor do we have any
\nreasonable answers to how the two communities, who had coexisted
\npeacefully together for generations, could fight one another,
\nkilling more than 2,000 people and displacing hundreds of
\nthousands of people in the space of only 15 months.<\/p>\n
The calm prevailing in Maluku today is the result of a
\nstandoff which can only be temporary. The two communities are
\nstill not interacting with one another. It is anybody's guess to
\nhow long this situation will continue. Judging by recent
\nreactions from Muslim organizations in Jakarta, some people are
\nrunning out of patience.<\/p>\n
Intimidating as it is, the call for jihad (holy war) by a
\nMuslim group in Jakarta last week highlights the public's growing
\nfrustrations at the lack of progress the government is making in
\nrestoring real peace in Maluku. We have yet to hear the results
\nof various government and independent investigations about the
\nreasons for the conflict. Results are essential not only to bring
\nthe perpetrators responsible for the thousands of deaths to
\ncourt, but also to address the root of the conflict.<\/p>\n
We have heard several theories for the conflict, including one
\ngiven by President Abdurrahman Wahid that has drawn sharp
\ncriticisms from Muslim groups. The President said the violence in
\nMaluku was a reflection of the frustrations of Christians who
\nfelt they had been shoved aside in governing the territory by the
\ninflux of Muslim migrants over these past few decades. Another
\ntheory explaining the violence in North Maluku says the conflict
\nwas the result of centuries of rivalry between the Ternate and
\nTidore sultanates and has nothing to do with Muslim-Christian
\nrivalry. The government's favorite theory, which is also the most
\npuzzling, is the presence of mysterious provocateurs from Jakarta
\nwho are inciting the two communities to kill one another.<\/p>\n
While we seem to have enough theories to explain the violence
\nin Maluku, there is a dearth of action on the part of the
\ngovernment. There have been very few arrests, and even fewer
\ncourt convictions in connection with the violence. Restoring
\npeace and order alone is not enough to normalize life in Maluku.
\nThe authorities must also be seen as being active in upholding
\njustice. This is the only way to regain the confidence of the
\npeople and to heal their wounds.<\/p>\n
If progress has been lacking that is because the government
\nappears to have done nothing at all on this front. This could
\nlead to more frustration, as already shown by some people in
\nJakarta, which in turn could erupt into another round of clashes.
\nIf that happens, we will go back to square one in what seems to
\nbe an endless vicious cycle. Only the next time round, the
\nviolence will likely kill much more people.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/standoff-in-maluku-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}