Indonesia must end the violence

Indonesia's first steps towards democracy have been halting. Citizens of the world's fourth most populous nation have embraced the chance to make their government accountable. But neither Indonesians nor their elected officials seem willing to take the steps necessary to end the dangerous and destabilizing violence.

If Indonesia is to have a serious chance of developing into a free, democratic nation, it must stop the terrible violence that has wracked the islands for the past year.

In recent days, the worst strife has been between Christians and Muslims in and around Ambon. Parts of the Maluku province have been made into armed camps of the two religious factions. In Maluku and North Maluku provinces, formerly known as the Spice Islands, hundreds of people have been slaughtered. Feelings are bitter, resentment runs deep.

Apart from the deaths and uprooted Indonesians, one of the saddest aspects has been the response of the Indonesian government -- or, more correctly, the lack of effective response. The great violence in the Malukus, in Aceh, in Irian Jaya and elsewhere was well known during last year's election campaign. Indeed, the main presidential candidates all promised to end the violence. They all promised to deal with the root causes of the killings. To this day, they have failed badly.

Last week's Jakarta protests should give everyone cause for concern. Participants spoke of a jihad, or holy war, unless Christians in the Malukus stopped fighting. This alarming rhetoric obviously took no notice of the fact it takes two to tango. It is time for all sides -- ethnic, religious, regional -- to pause, think and consider the futures of their communities, their islands and their nation. Authorities must deal more quickly, and fairly, to end sectarian and religious violence. In the Maluku area and elsewhere, the leaders elected in last year's democratic revolution must take up their responsibility: to lead.

-- The Bangkok Post