Laksar Jihad and Maluku

Laksar Jihad and Maluku

The presence of more than 3000 Laksar Jihad militiamen spread
across Maluku and North Maluku, and concentrated on Pulau Dama,
Morotai and Galela, should soon be ended. They must be asked to
leave Maluku, as their presence is more harming than benefiting
the peace efforts carried out by the government.

The statement by their commander, Ustadz Jafar Umar, that they
will remain in Ambon is very nonconducive for reconciliation in
Maluku. Indeed, it is a purposeful effort to make it difficult
for the Indonesian government to solve the Maluku problem. If it
is left as it is, it will directly or indirectly trouble
President Abdurrahman Wahid's government, because if Maluku is
not peaceful, the government will be considered incapable of
overcoming and controlling Ambon, which also means that people
will be much more tempted to invite foreign intervention.

Foreign intervention could take the form of the deployment of
multinational troops or a blockade of Indonesia. If such things
occur, the victims will be all of the Indonesian people. Two
hundred million Indonesian people will suffer because of Ustadz
Jafar Umar and his 3000 Laksar Jihad troops. Vice President
Megawati has visited Maluku several times, but it seems her
visits are fruitless, thwarted not only by Jakarta intellectuals
but also by groups from outside Maluku.

Let the Maluku people solve their own problems; outsiders
shouldn't meddle in their problems. The government should only
provide them the facilities, while the security apparatuses
should maintain the process. In restoring order, the police
should act first, assisted by the military. There's no need to
wear any masks, including the "bringing" of a noble religion in
the interests of individuals or groups.

The history of Indonesia shows that rebellions in religious
guises can be crushed by the government, namely by the apparatus.
Therefore, in this reform era, never let certain groups of people
force the security forces to take unconstitutional measures.

SULAIMAN

Jakarta