Drifting toward disarray

Drifting toward disarray

The country had barely begun to recover from the shock of the
deadly riots that swept Jakarta's Ketapang neighborhood on
Sunday, Nov. 22, before another blow jolted the nation. On Monday
thousands of people rampaged through the streets of Kupang, the
provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara, vandalizing property
and burning mosques, apparently in retaliation for the burning of
churches in Jakarta. At least six mosques were burned or
vandalized and much property was destroyed.

Mercifully, no human casualties have so far been reported in
this latest incident. Still, in the climate of confusion and
disorder that hangs over the country at present, Indonesians may
find little comfort in this crumb of comfort. For the truth is
that in both the Ketapang and the Kupang incidents, Indonesians
have seen brother pitted against brother, often in deadly combat,
merely because -- if appearances are anything to go by -- they
differed in creed.

For many decades Indonesians have been taught to believe --
and to have others believe -- that theirs is the most tolerant
nation on earth. For many years, especially in the early days of
independence, this credo did indeed seem to be true. Religious
and racial conflicts were rare, even though differences had
always existed. Over the years, as the dividing lines became more
sharply drawn by the process of evolution, those differences
became more accentuated and things began to change. Even so, few
of us appeared to be ready for the jolt that has come with the
realization that, perhaps, Indonesia is no more immune to racial
and religious conflict than other countries where such incidents
are considered commonplace.

One may be tempted to ask what factors could have set this
drift in motion. Whatever the answer, one thing stands out
clearly: diversity is one of Indonesia's most prominent
characteristics. Differences between population groups in this
country have always existed and will continue to exist. What this
implies is that our unity as a nation is not something that can
be taken for granted, but something that can be maintained only
with perseverance and wisdom. It is in this context that one must
understand the calls that have been made by some of our most
prominent and respected community and religious leaders in the
wake of the latest incidents for government leaders and
politicians to refrain from using potentially divisive issues,
such as religion in particular, as tools to achieve their
political ends.

Indonesia has been through quite enough bloody incidents since
the fall of the New Order regime in May. The latest incidents
that occurred in Jakarta and Kupang have brought this nation
dangerously close to the brink of disarray. People have become
susceptible to all kinds of rumors and speculation. As distrust
spreads, different population groups are easily played off
against each another. Rumors of political shenanigans being
played out behind the scenes by mysterious actors are being
circulated. All this could play into the hands of unscrupulous
manipulators or politicians with agendas of their own.

Unless these latest conflicts can be controlled and confined,
the danger is far from imaginary that this nation will be plunged
into chaos. Endless feuding between groups could ensue that would
sap what little energy the majority of us has left. It is to be
hoped that every Indonesian, whatever his or her creed, leaning
or political interest, realizes that what is at stake is not only
the future of the nation as a whole, but that of their own
children and grandchildren as well.