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)