Economic, clean-governance approaches on Poso

Economic, clean-governance approaches on Poso

Ruslan Sangadji, Palu, Central Sulawesi

Before President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono eventually decided
to set up a special Task Force for Poso, there had been a long
list of major unsolved crimes, bombings, corruption cases and
human rights violations in conflict-torn Poso regency in Central
Sulawesi. The President's decision has encouraged more people to
cooperate with the police. This process has also been assisted by
the fact that people are tired of the prolonged conflict that has
claimed about 2,000 victims from both sides.

Muslims and Christians had tended to be reluctant to help
police track down the wrongdoers as they did not believe that the
police could guarantee their safety.

Both sides also were also uncooperative following the
beheading of three Christian schoolgirls in Buyung Boyo. Ustadz
Adnan Arsal, a prominent Muslim leader in Poso, recently handed
over Andi Ipong and Muhammad Yusuf to the police for their
alleged role in several incidents of violence. Adnan, however,
expressed disappointment as the two suspects were transferred to
Jakarta despite police assurances that they would remain in Poso.

Led by Adnan, the Muslims then demanded that the Christian
side also surrender suspects to the police, and name 16
Christians suspected of killing Muslims. The demands were
rejected by the Christian side.

Actually, both sides are becoming more aware that they are
being used by outsiders, but the problems are abundant, including
conflicts among local politicians and other members of the elite.

Both sides are now demanding more power-sharing at all levels
of local government.

The economic disparity between the native Christian population
(from the Mori and Pamona ethnic groups), and migrants from
Bugis, Gorontalo, Java and Bali continues to widen. Migrants
dominate the economy. And the disparity is so yawning that no
one will be able to narrow it even over the long term. The social
envy will last for a long time as a result of the central
government allowing people from outside to settle in the region
as part of the transmigration program.

Meanwhile, many migrants fled and abandoned their land after
the conflict erupted. Indigenous people then occupied the
abandoned lands even though they had no legal title to it. The
government should settle this dispute as it is only a matter of
time before it causes another explosion of conflict.

According to the 2004 census, the population of Poso regency
is about 276,000. However, following the formation of a new
regency, Tojo Una Una, and the fact that many displaced persons
have not returned home, as of the end of 2004 the population was
only about 176,000 people, spread out among 12 districts and 140
subdistricts. Population density is about 20 people per square
kilometer. Poso city is the most populated part of the regency
with 448 people per square kilometer.

The number of Muslim population is 44.99 percent of the total
population while Christian 39.10 percent, and Catholic is 2.5
percent while the rest is Hindu and Buddhist.

The area is also home to people from the Bada, Bungku, Kaili,
Tojo, Manado and Toraja ethnic groups.

For a while Poso seemed to be returning to normalcy. However
situation here in reality is still very fragile as the roots of
the problems have not been addressed.

Local leaders here, including Yusuf Lakaseng, the coordinator
of the Poso Center, cited several major problems that need to be
settle in short and mid terms.

The first is corruption. The government must eradicate all
forms of corruption and punish those responsible for looting the
local treasury. They should be tried in Jakarta to avoid local
interference and provocation in Poso.

The four suspects in the embezzlement of humanitarian aid for
Poso, Andi Azikin Suyuti, Ivan Sidjaya, Agus and Abdul Kadir,
have been flown to Jakarta to face the court. If convicted, they
should also be imprisoned in Jakarta as their return to Poso
would only trigger more violence.

The President must establish an independent and inclusive
fact-finding commission to comprehensively investigate the
conflict. The current Task Force will not be effective as it is
dominated by officers of the police and military. They tend to
cover up the involvement of police and soldiers.

Not only local people but also members of the security forces
have committed violent crimes in Poso. Therefore, a security
operation alone will not be enough. Instead, it should be
accompanied by a welfare operation. An independent agency like
Aceh's Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) could also
be set up in Poso with a similar mission.

The government also needs to solicit public involvement at the
grassroots level in eradicating terrorism, crime and communal
conflict. In upholding order, the police need to deploy at least
one police officer to each village or sub-district.

The writer is a correspondent of The Jakarta Post.