Maluku peace accord draws mixed reaction
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.