The conflict continues<\/p>\n
To all honesty, \"brawl\" is too a mild word to describe what
\nhappened in Jakarta's Matraman area on Sunday. What with
\nresidents of the two clashing neighborhoods hurling not only
\nrocks, but Molotov cocktails at each other and shooting at each
\nother with arrows and air rifles, the incident was more than a
\ncommon brawl.<\/p>\n
Given the ferocity of the fighting, it may be considered
\nfortunate that no one was killed and not more people were
\ninjured. One young man was shot in the thigh with an air rifle,
\nanother suffered head injuries after being hit by a rock, while
\nyet another was hit by a Molotov cocktail.<\/p>\n
Other victims were taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo General
\nHospital, but were released after receiving treatment for minor
\ninjuries. One man was released after minor surgery resulting from
\na bullet wound in his stomach. One house and the headquarters of
\na plant producing machine supplies were set ablaze.<\/p>\n
Two questions arise with regard to the unceasing enmity that
\nhas been smoldering for decades between residents of the two
\nneighborhoods involved -- Berlan on the one side and Palmeriam on
\nthe other. The two communities are located not far from each
\nother along the main Matraman thoroughfare not far from
\nJatinegara.<\/p>\n
The first question is, what causes the enmity; the second is,
\nwhat must be done to end the animosity between the two
\ncommunities.<\/p>\n
The fact is that clashes between residents of the two areas
\nhave been occurring -- on and off -- since the 1950s and perhaps
\nbefore, when Berlan was still called Berenlaan and Palmeriam
\ncalled Paal Meriam, and life was generally peaceful. Berlan, or
\nBerenlaan, was at that time a neighborhood known for its anak
\nkolong (army brats) from the Army barracks located there, the
\nsecond for its young roughnecks living among the general
\npopulation.<\/p>\n
Both communities must over the decades have undergone a shift
\nin demographic makeup, and yet the animosity continues. The fact
\nthat in the latest clash people from nearby Jl. Tegalan appear to
\nhave been involved seems to indicate that the enmity has even
\nwidened. Old habits do die hard, but it seems rather difficult to
\nbelieve that the introduction of new elements into Berlan and
\nPalmeriam has brought no change at all to the societal and
\nbehavioral makeup of the two communities.<\/p>\n
The problem appears to be no less baffling to Governor
\nSutiyoso, who said that \"the problem lies with the residents
\nthemselves because they have been enemies for (at least) 30
\nyears. If 90 percent of Jakartans can live in harmony, why can't
\nMatraman residents?\"<\/p>\n
To refer to the second question -- what can be done -- we must
\nadmit we do not know of a clear-cut answer. It seems to be the
\nduty of the police, possibly with the assistance of sociologists,
\nto find out the underlying reasons for the altercation and do
\nwhat has to be done to resolve it.<\/p>\n
On one thing is certain though, an alarm must be sounded. A
\nPalmeriam community figure, who is also a member of the Matraman
\nResidents Communication Forum, said on Sunday that Palmeriam
\nresidents planned to visit the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH
\nJakarta) or the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
\nto report the police's conduct during the incident. \"The police
\nwere out of control,\" the man said. \"They brutalized those who
\nwere not involved in the brawl,\" he said, accusing them of
\nbeating and kicking a food vendor.<\/p>\n
That sounds uncomfortably like what we have been hearing from
\nMaluku, where some police and military officers are said to be
\ntaking sides in the ongoing conflict. If such unprofessional
\nconduct is repeated in Jakarta, one can imagine what the possible
\nconsequences will be. Jakartans can call themselves fortunate
\nthat, so far, life has been relatively peaceful and orderly in
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso's view that leadership at the local official
\nlevel is the key factor in settling the dispute may be sound
\nenough. But those leaders need the help of a truly professional
\npolice force, as well as sound expert advice, if they are to
\nbring this decades-old dispute to an end.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-conflict-continues-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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