Low profile peacemakers toil for reconciliation

People have lost count of the number of ceremonies officials have thrown to celebrate government-brokered peace deals struck between warring Christians and Muslims. Unfortunately, renewed fighting usually erupts again before the ink has had time to dry.

Learning from the failures, peacemakers from both neutral and conflicting sides continue. Without much fanfare, non- governmental and religious groups, with the help of international organizations, have joined forces to make peace last in devastated Maluku.

It is widely perceived that the sectarian conflict has spiraled out of control because the government and the military have made it a political commodity at the expense of the people.

The various failed peace deals have been made with government intervention and with the role of "outsiders" who know little of the root of the problem.

"Some people from outside Maluku, who have no real relations with the locals, have acted like heroes," said Yusran Leitupa, an activist at the Center for Peace Building Studies (PSPP). "The sad reality is that the real community leaders were not involved."

"Peace agreements collapse all the time because government officials and leaders involved lack legitimacy. They are wrong to force the warring sides to make instant peace after such intense enmity," he said.

PSPP focuses on conflict management. With 11 core members, it targets students, journalists, refugee camp coordinators and community leaders.

Various community-based groups and individuals, both Christian and Muslim, are trying a different approach. Their basic assumption is that peace must begin at the grass roots. Their aim is to essentially instill an awareness of peace and tolerance.

The strongest group is Care for the Children Network (JPA), a group of local women activists from both Christian and Muslim communities who defend the rights of children and counsel children and adults for trauma.

Their hard work has been attributed to the growing trust among ordinary people from the two communities. In some areas of Ambon city, more and more people are brushing shoulders at "reconciliation markets" built in neutral zones.

"I think people are increasingly aware they need each other for a meaningful life and they are not easily instigated to hate others in the name of religion," said Baihajar Tualeka, a Muslim activist who concentrates on Muslim refugee camps in the area.

Care for the Children Network also focuses on teaching children about the meaning of living in harmony with others who embrace a different religion. Children from rival communities are brought together for common activities in neutral zones.

A major undertaking of activists, officials and UNICEF has been the Maluku Children Congress, which was held in Ambon from July 19 to July 22. The congress culminated in the celebration of National Children's Day, when 750 Muslim and Christian children from throughout Maluku amassed at Baileo Oikumene hall, Maranatha church.

Children account for about one-third of the 300,000 displaced people forced to live in temporary camps scattered in Ambon.

The focus on children in peace building has received a boost from a recent UNICEF-commissioned survey by Yap Winarto in 94 schools throughout Maluku. The survey found that 72 percent of respondents missed their classmates from different religions and 77 percent harbored no hatred toward their friends from different religions, even after riots have taken place.

But in some schools on Buru and Seram islands, between 67 percent and 86 percent of respondents said they hated their classmates from different religions. However, on average, an overwhelming proportion of respondents have no problem with friends from another religion.

JPA is also helping the establishment of the Children's Parliament, a 13-member institution of children from different religions aimed at strengthening the protection of children's rights.

"It is important that children have a voice to make sure their rights are respected," said chief of UNICEF's Maluku office Frans Petutschnig.

Children from the two rival communities are brought together for meaningful activities. At the provincial public library, which lies in a neutral zone, children sit side by side taking part in a computer course.

They mingle freely in the library for common activities now that the continued conflict has brought the mobile library program to a standstill.

"Children can easily understand our messages of peace and can put it into practice," Baihadjar said.