Ethnic hatred, poverty spell bloodshed

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