Conflicts worsen despite troop deployments

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The deployment of 50,000 troops in restive areas has largely failed to restore order because elements in both the government and the military have vested interests in keeping the conflicts alive, observers said Saturday.

Syamsuddin Haris of the National Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said that the government's lack of a comprehensive policy to handle the widespread unrest had created an opportunity for certain parties, including the military and police, to prolong the conflicts.

"I see that the existing conflicts most likely constitute "projects" on the part of those who don't want to see successes in the struggle for reform and democracy in this country," Syamsuddin said.

"The military and police need to keep the conflicts alive so as to bring their own agendas to fruition," Syamsuddin added.

Syamsuddin expressed pessimism as to whether the government would be able to settle the problems as "the President herself is part of the compromise."

Separately, M. Rifqie Muna of the Research Institute for Democracy and Peace (RIDeP) blamed the government for not having a mechanism or early warning system for anticipating such conflicts.

"The central government also does not have a thorough policy for handling unrest so that it is actually confused whether it should be the police or the military who are sent in to help curb disturbances in certain regions," Rifqie told The Jakarta Post.

The government said earlier that about 50,000 military and police personnel had been deployed to several troubled provinces, such a Aceh, Irian Jaya and Maluku, to maintain order.

According to the government, the troops were also expected to do their best to help maintain the unity of the state and quell separatist movements.

Data reveals that the largest troop deployments are in Aceh and Maluku, where some 22,000 personal are now stationed. The remaining troops are stationed in several other regions such as Kalimantan, Irian Jaya and Poso (Central Sulawesi).

Despite the large troop deployment, however, sectarian conflicts continue to intensify in certain regions. The government, for example, has just sent fresh troops to Poso, where Muslim paramilitary groups have reportedly driven thousands of Christian villagers from their homes. The fresh deployment, however, has so far failed to curb the conflict there.

"The confusing regulation stating that the police have the authority to decide whether they need military assistance or not has worsened the security situation. The involvement of the military in handling disturbances must be clearly determined by the government as a political decision," Rifqie said.

Rifqie admitted that the military itself had problems in strictly punishing its members who were involved in the conflicts due to emotional reasons, or even for economic reasons by supplying arms and weapons to separatist movements in the country.

"The deployment of troops in several restive regions is not the only solution as the government must also put in place comprehensive policies on politics, economics and social affairs in respect of the regions," Rifqie said.