Maluku peace accord draws mixed reaction

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government-brokered peace accord signed by delegates from the Maluku Christian and Muslim factions in the South Sulawesi town of Malino on Tuesday drew mixed reactions.

Most participants in the two-day talks were optimistic that peace would endure while others remained skeptical of the peace deal.

Amboina Bishop Mgr P.C. Mandagi said he was optimistic that the talks would be effective in ending the conflict because this one differed from previous agreements.

"I'm very hopeful that it will be adhered to, there is no other alternative except peace to end the conflict," he said on Tuesday.

According to him, the fate of the talks would depend on the supporters of both sides and on government law enforcers.

"The situation in Maluku will peace to normal if the two sides phase out their suspicion and accept the 11-point accord. And then peace will endure if both the government and security authorities treat all sides equally and enforce the law fairly," he said.

Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina and Ambon Mayor Max Papilaya expressed their optimism, saying the accord was a starting point for Maluku to return to normal.

"We want to rebuild Maluku and Ambon together," said Papilaya.

Ayip Syafruddin, chairman of the Forum for Communication of Ahlussunah Wal-Jamaah, a militant Muslim organization connected to the Laskar Jihad milita, said the government must be strict in enforcing the accord and the law.

"The two factions should not just stop with the accord but must also work hard to get the message to their supporters while security authorities must be diligent to prevent people from violating the agreement and the law," he said

According to him, security authorities should take action against the South Maluku Society (RMS) and the Maluku Sovereignty Forum, two separatist movements that he claimed had been instrumental in exacerbating the situation and inciting violence.

Asked about the presence of the Java-based paramility fighters from Laskar Jihad in the province, Ayip insisted the militant Muslim group would not leave the province because their presence was required by Maluku Muslims for humanitarian reasons.

"We will not leave the province without clear and plausible reasons from the authorities," he said.

Indria Samego, a political observer from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said he was skeptical of the accord because of hatred at the grassroots level.

"Both Christian and Muslim groups are still facing psychological and physical obstacles to accept peace because they are still traumatized by the three years of bloodshed. They need more time," he said.

Indria also said the Maluku people wanted to see security authorities deal with all the things that have triggered the conflict.

"The conflict has developed into a wide-ranging problem, not because of the bickering of two youths of different religions that some say triggered the conflict, but on a much larger scale due to the deep-seated social underpinnings behind the conflict," he said.

A delegate who asked for anonymity, said that besides maintaining security authorities' neutrality, the government should encourage social justice by giving priority to indigenous people in Maluku -- mostly Christians.

"Social justice must be upheld for indigenous people in the administration and the private sector. Maluku people are resentful that migrant people have played a dominant role in the administration and the business sector," he said, referring to the transmigration program which sent thousands of mostly Javanese Muslims to the province over the past 30 years.

Both Governor Latuconsina and National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar were of the same opinion that the state of civil emergency would depend on the situation.

"The state of emergency will be lifted if the situation is peaceful," said Da'i.

Latuconsina said he asked the government to lift the state of emergency but no positive response was given because of the recent riots in parts of the province.