Government told to work harder in Maluku

Government told to work harder in Maluku

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The government must work harder for peace in
Maluku as the significant factor behind the lingering sectarian
clashes is rifts among troops maintaining security in the
province, a scholar says.

Gadjah Mada University sociologist Lambang Trijono said here
on Thursday that the arrival of Laksar Jihad Muslim fighters,
particularly those from Java, had also worsened the situation.

"These two factors keep the communal fires burning," he said,
adding that the Laksar Jihad's appearance in the province was
politically motivated.

He pointed to the most recent conflict in Maluku late last
month in the village of Wai, some 28 kilometers south of Ambon
town.

"There is enough evidence (to say) that it was security
personnel who started firing shots, while Navy personnel coming
to the area were quelled by volley of gunshots from armed
personnel deployed in the area," he said.

He mentioned the names of several top brasses in the
Indonesian Military who, in his opinion, were behind the Maluku
mayhem, along with those backing Laskar Jihad Force operations in
the territory.

He said that the government should mobilize all of its
political and economic resources to solve the region's problems.

In Ternate, North Maluku, Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief of
Staff Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago warned of possible conflict ahead
of the establishment of the provincial legislative council and
the gubernatorial election. Both events are scheduled to take
place in November.

"The two events might rock the current peace in the province,
and the calmness could turn to fierce conflict if the troops fail
to take appropriate steps to deal with the situation," he told
battalion commanders and other TNI officers here.

"TNI members must be well informed about the schedules of the
events and maintain the (current) conducive situation to avoid
any possible conflict," Antara quoted him as saying.

The political climate in North Maluku has heated up after the
provincial chapter of the Golkar Party announced eight
gubernatorial candidates, including former deputy speaker of the
House of Representatives (DPR) Abdul Gafur.

The Golkar Party office received bomb and arson threats last
Thursday.

Chaniago was in Ternate after visiting Ambon to discuss the
situation in the province after two months of a state of civil
emergency.

On Wednesday, he admitted having received reports of troops
behaving impartially in the area. (44/49/sur)