'FKM, Laskar Jihad not the root of conflict'

'FKM, Laskar Jihad not the root of conflict'

Annastashya Emmanuelle and Oktovianus P., The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta/Ambon

Leaders of the National Moral Movement cross-religious group
urged the government on Monday to launch an investigation into
the years of bloodshed in Maluku as they believe the presence of
Laskar Jihad and the Maluku Sovereignty Forum (FKM) is the mere
tip of a bigger problem.

According to the Movement, both the native Muslim and
Christian groups in Maluku are longing for peace and willing to
comply with the Malino II peace agreement, yet elements from
outside the area have triggered new conflicts with a further loss
of life.

"A thorough investigation is needed to find out the mastermind
(of the conflict). Both the Laskar Jihad and FKM is not
necessarily the root-cause," Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of Nahdlatul
Ulama, the country's largest Muslim organization, told reporters
after meeting Vice President Hamzah Haz at the latter's office.

As the people in Maluku lost trust in each other, they became
prone to provocation and resorted to retaliation after an
incident, which was usually not investigated thoroughly by the
security apparatus, Hasyim said.

"There is always a possibility that a conflict is properly
planned ... it's the government's responsibility to investigate
this," he said, adding that if the government failed to bring
peace to Ambon, it signified the government's failure to protect
its people.

Peace has yet to be permanently restored in Maluku despite the
peace agreement signed on Feb. 12 in the South Sulawesi town of
Malino. The worst violence broke out late in April when a group
of armed people killed 12 people in Soya village, near the
provincial capital of Ambon.

Ismartono, who represented the Indonesian Council of Bishops
(KWI) at the meeting, said people in Ambon told the visiting
members of the movement that perpetrators of the Soya violence
were outsiders.

"They said, the (perpetrators) didn't use the local language,
and that no Ambonese would have the capability of destroying a
village in such a short time," Ismartono told reporters.

According to the assessment of the Movement, the Malino II
peace deal was aimed at resolving the sectarian conflict but it
did not address the conflict between people and the state.

Earlier, during the opening ceremony of the Laskar Jihad Ahlus
Sunnah Wal Jamaah congress, Hamzah supported the group's demand
for stiff measures against FKM as a condition for the former's
withdrawal from Maluku.

He said Laskar Jihad could be pulled out if the government
could guarantee the safety of Muslims in Maluku.

"Of course action must be taken against FKM first and after
the Muslims are no longer threatened, the Laskar Jihad must also
obey (orders to leave the area)," Hamzah said.

Hamzah has drawn controversy for visiting Laskar Jihad leader
Ja'far Umar Thalib, who was arrested for allegedly provoking
violence in Ambon. The government has insisted on phasing out of
Laskar Jihad from Maluku and taking actions against FKM in a bid
to restore peace in the province.

Ambon remained tense on Monday following Sunday's bombing in
the Diponegoro-Mangga Dua Ambon area which left a civilian dead
and a military officer severely injured. Security forces arrested
eight men, including six Laskar Jihad members, in the incident
over possession of arms and bombs.

Angry masses burned the house of Thamrin Ely, who represented
Muslims in the Malino peace talks, and a speedboat belonging to
the provincial administration after police refused to release the
detainees.

"We truly regret the burning of Thamrin Ely's official
residence, and the Mutiara speedboat, which is normally used to
fetch VIP guests," spokesman for the Maluku administration, Izack
Saimima, said on Monday.