Independent hasn't brought peace in Poso

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Poso, Sulawesi Tengah

"Perdamaian, perdamaian. Perdamaian, perdamaian. Banyak yang cinta damai, tapi perang makin ramai. Bingung-bingung ku memikirkan." (Peace, peace. Peace, peace. Many love peace, but war is on the rise. I'm confused thinking about it ...")

The song, entitled Perdamaian (Peace), is a must-perform song at every official meeting involving two main communities, the Muslims and the Christians, in Poso, Central Sulawesi. The song seems to reflect people's desire for peace after living under the shadow of conflict since 1998.

"We don't ask much. We only want peace, peace and peace. Once there is peace, other things will follow," Ruaidah Untingo, 41, told The Jakarta Post when asked to comment on the meaning of independence for Poso residents on Wednesday.

At a time when the country is set to celebrate 60 years since the proclamation of independence on Aug. 17, for Poso residents, it means they have been living under fear and terror for seven years.

"Since 1998, Poso residents never enjoyed what independence really means," the activist said.

She said that physically, people might find Poso to be safe.

"We can say that today Poso is safe; even the government can campaign saying Poso is safe and the media can write and tell the same thing. But who can guarantee that tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or some other day, there will be no more bomb threats or no more shootings of civilians?" Ruaidah said.

She urged the government to be really serious in resolving conflicts in Poso, and refraining from turning the conflicts into a mega project for the interests of certain groups.

Poso security, she said, was unpredictable. No matter how many times reconciliation meetings between the main communities were held, once the peace deal was signed, shooting incidents occurred and handmade bombs were found.

"So it's hard to really comment about the real meaning of independence for Poso residents. The meaning of Aug. 17 ends at the flag-hoisting ceremony," Ruaidah said.

Another resident, Mohammad Sidik, 32, believed that Poso residents would be completely independent when all the problems are solved.

"We can be independent when there's no more military personnel and police personnel wandering around carrying weapons in the streets and security posts. We'll be independent when people are no longer being terrorized," he said.

He recalled that only several days ago two civilians, Budianto and Sugianto, were shot dead by unknown assailants in Poso.

"I'm afraid, maybe tomorrow or the day after there will be more Budiantos and Sugiantos who will become shooting victims. If this thing still happens, can we say we're independent?" he asked.

Acting Poso Regent Andi Azikin Suyuti admitted that Poso residents still did not fully enjoy real independence -- getting all their basic needs and no longer suffering terror, shootings or bombings.

He said the local administration is currently working to involve all stakeholders in the city to reconcile.

"Reconciliation should start at the bottom and can't be forced by the government. If reconciliation is based on people's awareness, then we can truly enjoy real peace and independence," Azikin said.

A Regional Representative Council member from Central Sulawesi, M. Ichsan Loulembah, urged the central government to use the country's 60th anniversary celebrations to take over the work of resolving conflicts in Poso. The government, he added, could appoint a representative to control the city's security.

"We can't pin hopes on the provincial administration or Poso regency administration. Both administrations cannot make policy on security, only the central government can," he said.

He named President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla as "the two people most responsible" for soothing the conflict in Poso.

"So Poso's future depends on Poso residents and these two people (the president and vice president). They should personally work to resolve the matter and there's no need to cover up when there's a party trying to keep spreading terror in Poso," Ichsan said.