Ethnic conflicts pose complex problem: Scholars

Ethnic conflicts pose complex problem: Scholars

JAKARTA (JP): The recent spate of ethnic conflicts constitutes
a very complex problem, needing careful management in order to
preserve the multi-ethnic country, according to noted
intellectuals.

Nurcholish Madjid, an influential Muslim figure, said here on
Tuesday that the increasing number of ethnic and sectarian
conflicts had a lot to do with the growth of communalism among
certain ethnic groups, as well as widening social disparity and
political instability.

"Despite modernity, the phenomenon of communalism, with its
negative effects, is employed among certain ethnic groups to
maintain their existence. Pluralism is just an 'ism', but more
and more people are not aware of it. We are still witnessing the
people of one ethnic group killing those of another, burning
their heads and eating their hearts," he said in a seminar on
ethic and religious harmony, which also featured Arief Budiman,
chief of Indonesian studies at the University of Melbourne.

Nurcholish, also rector of the Islamic Paramadina University,
said that widening economic and cultural disparity and the
ongoing political instability have also contributed to the ethic
tension.

"Almost all regions whose followers derive from various ethnic
populations are extremely vulnerable to ethnic and religious
conflicts, which can be triggered by simple and private disputes.
However, widening social disparity and political instability have
really been behind the conflicts," he said, referring to the
disputes in Aceh and Irian Jaya, as well as the recent conflicts
in Sambas and Sampit in Kalimantan.

Nurcholish also blamed the former repressive New Order regime
for the current ethnic and religious conflicts, saying that,
although the strife has erupted in the current era, they were
merely inhibited from surfacing in the past.

"The conflicts were not resolved, but subdued through
repressive measures, only rising to the surface during the
present environment, where the government is weak and the law is
not respected," he said.

Arief Budiman concurred, saying the rampant ethnic and
sectarian tension was also associated with the repressive
military regime.

"The repressive military culture, which has been developed
since the New Order era, has contributed to the rampant ethnic
and religious conflicts in Indonesia today. If a civilian attacks
a serviceman it is seen as an attack on his or her corps," he
said.

Arief, a critic of former president Soeharto's regime, said he
believed the military's repressive culture had contributed to the
ongoing violent tension in Aceh, Maluku and North Maluku.

He said most ethnic tension was caused by external factors.

"The anti-Chinese sentiment has been developed, not because
people of Chinese descent speak their own language or are an
exclusive group, but because they are held as scapegoats for the
economic and political crisis," he said.

According to him, Indonesia must phase out the repressive
military culture to minimize sectarian conflict.

He said that, despite the military's tarnished image, it is
actually still very powerful, reflected by the absence of its
good will in helping resolve ethnic conflicts peacefully.

Merle Ricklefs, director of the Melbourne Institute of Asian
Language and Societies, said that moral authorities, especially
religious and informal leaders, should set good examples for a
moderate attitude among the people.

"Pluralism must be nationally accepted and maintained to
advance a multiethnic country," he said. (rms)