Ethnic hatred, poverty spell bloodshed

As if sitting on a volcano, the residents who live along Jl. Matraman have to be ready for an outbreak of fighting to erupt at any time.

The first incident can be traced back to the early 1950s when groups of KNIL members -- an Indonesian army recruited and trained by the Dutch -- were forced to leave the Berlan housing complex as thousands of Indonesian Military (TNI) troops from Central and East Java came in.

Although the KNIL soldiers, whose members consisted mostly of Ambonese, were later integrated into the TNI, their members had to live temporarily in Jl. Matraman, across from the Berlan complex, while waiting for permanent housing.

However, alternative housing was never found and the dwelling became permanent, later to become known as Kampung Ambon.

Inflamed by historical and ethnic prejudices, both groups were involved in heated brawls and battles over the following three decades.

The conflicts died down, temporarily, in 1987, when Kampung Ambon people moved out.

However, over next few years new conflicts emerged between Berlan residents in the Kebon Manggis district and residents of Tegalan, Palmeriam and Kayumanis subdistricts, all in the Matraman district.

"The economics and pride were the motives that lay behind most of the fights. Our youth would get involved in fights with youths from other subdistricts over who was in charge of taking parking fees along Jl. Matraman, while students from both sides of the road fight over other trivial matters," said Mande Darmani, an influential figure in the Berlan complex.

After a string of clashes, the fights reached a peak in April 2000 when at least eight people died and dozens of houses and buildings were burned, sidelining the police and the soldiers who tried to stop them.

"Both sides attacked us. We were confused at the time. We could only put down the conflicts temporarily. After we left they would start fighting each other again," a police officer said.

As the conflicts became national headlines, the government looked at many ways to try and resolve the conflict, including the establishment of a "communications forum" for both sides and by placing a 3-meter fence in the middle of the road, which only worked for three months. -- JP