Genocide incompatible with religion and faith

Genocide incompatible with religion and faith

The clashes in Maluku which have taken hundreds, maybe
thousands, of lives continue unabated. The following article is
based on an interview with the Catholic bishop of Maluku,
Monsignor Petrus Canisius Mandagi.

How do you explain the year-long clashes between Muslims and
Christians in the Maluku islands?

The conflict must be placed in a wider context. We cannot view
it in a regional context only but in a national or even
international context. What President Abdurrahman Wahid said
about it being the Maluku people themselves who have to bring
about peace is true on one hand, but it is not 100 percent
correct.

The root of the conflict is a power struggle. There is a
political undertone present. Those fighting for power are not in
only Ambon. There are those living outside Ambon. Ambon is merely
a means to attain their goals. It is similar to play on a soccer
field.

Who is involved in the struggle for power?

There are three groups at play. The status quo group, that is
Soeharto and his cronies, is one. They want to recapture their
power. Or members of this group who feel they have been
humiliated. They think they have been made into scapegoats. They
are being prosecuted, chased and dragged to court. They are
fighting back by creating conflict everywhere while diverting
public attention away from themselves and to the unrest. It is
also an opportunity to topple the new regime.

The second group is the hard-line Muslims. They look at this
transitional period as an opportunity to seize power from the
nationalists, which include Christians whom they believe have
been the real power holders so far. They have mobilized people
not only in Ambon but also outside Ambon.

They sent jihad troops to Ambon to dominate or to expand their
sphere of influence. I do not know where the people came from,
but some outside troops allegedly attacked and occupied certain
areas and exterminated locals. Ternate is one example. We are
finished there. Churches, schools and convents were torched.
Christians were evicted.

Likewise on Buru island, both in the north and in the west. An
exception is the island's main town of Namlea where Catholics are
protected by Muslims. Houses owned by Catholics are not burned
down. Muslim youths stand guard at churches and parish houses.
Catholics are protected. But it is over for Protestants there.
There was revenge on the part of Protestants. I strongly deplore
this. Many Muslims were killed.

The third group comprises military people. The military,
especially the Army, is under fire because of alleged past
abuses. It has been discredited. Of course it wants to regain
power. Certain members create conflict so that the people will
look to them to overcome it. I regret this. It is not the way to
do it. The military should act in a professional way. It should
love and protect the people. It should not use violence. Perhaps,
living under repression and violence for 32 years has taught us
to use violence to achieve our goals. Whereas we should seize
power by way of dialog, democratic elections. Many still see
power as an instrument to maintain egocentrism, positions.

President Wahid's proposed solution is to leave the matter to
the Maluku people themselves. Which groups can still be brought
together?

The unrest in Maluku has degenerated into genocide, involving
both Protestants and Muslims. I think the first step is to put an
end to this violence, this genocide. There is no other
alternative but to turn to the military. We need the military,
either Indonesian or foreign troops. But we must still try to do
it with the military from home.

Is the military still there and is it up to the task?

It is still there. I told my fellow priests that while we may
not agree with certain military officers we should not be against
the military as an institution, it is the military that can
provide security after all. The important thing is dialog, not
confrontation. We should discuss the good things and the bad in
the context of a dialog, but not to discredit anyone. I think
that is acceptable.

What should the military do at this point in time?

I think it has to take certain measures, like mount a raid
against sharp weapons. This should be carried out in a
disciplined way, not in an overbearing way like hitting or
stripping people. It should be done strictly and according to the
law. This should also apply to the confiscation of ammunition.
Another important thing is the prevention of arms smuggling and
the manufacturing of assembled arms or Molotov cocktails.

Next, justice should be upheld. A court should try those who
committed mass killing, Christian and Muslim perpetrators
notwithstanding as well as civilians or military members.

Then comes the endeavor for reconciliation. In my opinion,
reconciliation attempts solely by the people of Maluku themselves
will not work because grudges run too deep. There is a need for
outside intervention, from within the country or a foreign
independent party.

In the reconciliation process there must include open and
frank discussions with an outpouring of feelings. There may be
cultural barriers, economic or religious injustices, or perhaps
weak local leadership.

What kind of military leadership do you think would work in
the current situation?

To stop the violence, there is certainly a need for
professional military leaders. The leaders there now are in a
difficult position. In my opinion a total change is necessary. It
is not because we dislike the present leaders. But they may be
too tired, too exhausted.

What is needed is a new leader with a clear vision and mind.
It may be that the existing leaders are so used to riots that
they no longer have a sense of crisis. Therefore I think it is
necessary to replace the governor, the military regional
commander, the regional chief of police, the military district
commander, the military resort commander, the regents.

The regional government now is helpless, paralyzed. I think a
transitional government is needed there. It should be directly
under the control of the central government, answerable to the
President.

Do you feel that there are clean military people who can
overcome the conflicts?

There are still some of them. We must support them. They are
only human beings, like us. They get tired and need support.
Therefore we should continue to strive to relate with them.

What is the role of religious figures, moral leaders like
yourself?

We are helpless because anarchy has set in. We are only moral
figures. People do not listen to us. Especially if a conflict is
orchestrated. We are just pushed aside. People in the Catholic
congregation, however, usually still listen to the voice of their
priests and bishops.

Why were you accompanied by the Vatican ambassador when you
paid a call on the President on Jan. 5?

For me the Maluku conflict is a humanitarian problem, a
problem of genocide. It is not a national or international
matter. It is a human problem. The Vatican is known in the world
as a fighter for humankind. I think the visit of the Vatican
ambassador was intended to inform people about the concern of the
Vatican about the killings. The presence of the Vatican
ambassador was for me a symbol of the church's struggle for
humankind.

It was not because I wanted to involve another country. Or to
denigrate Indonesia. No. I wanted to emphasize the struggle of
humankind.

To your knowledge, how many people have died?

Thousands already. In the whole of Maluku, it is in the
thousands. I think more than 3,000 or 4,000. In North Maluku
alone the total has exceeded 2,000 in the past few days. It is
more serious in Central and Southeast Maluku. It causes us
concern. It is a crisis of humankind. (F. Sihol Siagian)