Gus Dur's visit to Ambon draws mixed reactions

JAKARTA (JP): Observers were divided on Monday over the significance of President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri's visit to Ambon, the capital of riot-torn Maluku.

But they all agreed that follow-up steps were vital in bringing to an end the year-long conflict.

Noted political observers Arbi Sanit from the University of Indonesia, J. Kristiadi from the Center for Strategic and International Studies and legislator Didi Supriyanto from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) spoke to The Jakarta Post about Sunday's visit by the nation's two leaders.

Arbi said the arrival of Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, and Megawati contributed nothing to efforts to resolve the conflict in Maluku.

"Gus Dur went there empty handed. He brought no concrete plans to restore peace in the area," Arbi said.

President Abdurrahman called for peace for the strife-torn province and said it was up to locals to end the protracted conflict, which has claimed more than 600 lives and destroyed hundreds of buildings since first erupting in mid-January.

Arbi speculated the visit was only meant to put an end to mounting criticism of the President's numerous overseas trips in his first month in office.

"His call to stop clashes in Ambon is only good at a philosophical level, but it cannot be digested by those who are fighting," said Arbi, a persistent government critic.

"How can they listen and at least try to comprehend Gus Dur's message while they are still thinking about how to take revenge?"

Ambon and its neighboring areas were relatively calm during the presidential visit, with reports indicating the territory remained peaceful on Monday.

Kristiadi supported Abdurrahman's historic visit, saying his presence in Ambon reflected his determination to end the protracted sectarian clashes in Maluku.

"But we should not expect the visit to resolve the complicated conflict, which should have been prevented by the previous governments," Kristiadi said.

The prolonged conflict has eroded residents' trust in the government, security personnel and their neighbors, while at the same time fueling hatred and a desire for revenge among the warring parties, Kristiadi said.

He shared Abdurrahman's view that settling the conflict would depend on the people of Maluku themselves.

Didi praised the visit, calling it an ideal start for finding a resolution to the conflict.

"Let's not count the immediate effects of the visit because it was just the beginning of a long and winding road to restore order and peace in Ambon," Didi said.

He said local people should be involved in finding a solution to their problems.

"Ambonese should regard Gus Dur's call to let them solve the crisis themselves as a request to examine their past behavior," Didi said.

Speaking during an interview aired by private television station SCTV, sociologist Tamrin Amal Tamagola said a self-funded reconciliation team had already been established by Maluku natives residing in Jakarta.

"Gus Dur and Megawati only kicked the ball onto the field we already prepared. We have been working for so long before their visit," he said.

According to the results of a preliminary study, the group concluded that the roots of the conflict were injustice and social disparity, with ethnic and religious issues simply being the trigger for the violence.

"There are people or groups benefiting from the conflict," he said without elaborating.

Obstacles

President Abdurrahman explained the purpose of his overnight visit to Maluku during a media conference here on Monday.

He said the limited time for the journey prevented him from visiting all of the islands hit by sectarian violence.

"I came to Ambon to meet people and local figures, even if I could not meet them all," he said after attending a celebration for the 62nd anniversary of state news agency Antara.

Abdurrahman underlined that Ambon was gradually returning to normal, as evidenced by the resumption of economic activity and the warm welcome he received.

"The extraordinary spirit of surviving for the future was clearly seen in their greeting," he said.

However, amid signs of recovery, Abdurrahman still witnessed what he called the regrettable segregation of Muslims and Christians.

Abdurrahman said he was most moved not by the number of people who gathered to welcome the presidential entourage, but by the sound of children in the crowd.

"The children's voices really moved me. They are the most important group we have to fight for. They have to have future welfare," he said. (04/emf)