Military approach unsound to quell unrest: Sociologist

Military approach unsound to quell unrest: Sociologist

JAKARTA (JP): A military approach to quell ongoing unrest in
the country is only worsening the situation, a sociologist said
here on Saturday.

Deployment of the military, instead, had led to more human
rights abuses, said Mely G. Tan of the Indonesian Institute for
Sciences (LIPI).

Speaking before a seminar on social integration in
Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, she drew attention to continuing
unrest in Maluku and Aceh.

Separately in Bandung, West Java, another noted senior
sociologist, Selo Soemardjan, said negotiations between Acehnese
and the government could only be conducted if troops were
withdrawn.

"Withdrawal of the troops will enable negotiations," he said.

More than 100,000 Acehnese have become refugees in their
homeland, as a result of threats of armed violence either from
the Free Aceh Movement or from security personnel.

Last week 440 police members arrived in Lhokseumawe, North
Aceh, and 7,000 more soldiers were expected, police said, to help
take action against armed groups. Meanwhile 200 combat troop
members were sent home on completion of their assignment to
secure the province ahead of the June polls.

Activists say the troops sent to crush unidentified armed
groups and the Free Aceh Movement has led to rights abuses, and
the victimization of unarmed residents.

In Ambon, the Maluku capital, 21 died in clashes between
Muslims and Christians last week, while tens of thousands of
residents are still in refugee shelters. The violence has killed
some 300 people since January.

In Batam last week 14 were killed in an ethnic dispute between
Flores and Batak residents.

"Apart from the lack of firmness on the part of the
government, the social unrest is caused by the political elite
which are only looking out for their individual interests," Mely
said before addressing the talk on social integration.

She said a continuing lack of justice, not ethnic or religious
differences, was a better explanation for the unrest. She said
instead of a military approach, the government should enforce the
law and provide justice to all parties.

In Bogor, West Java, an executive of the influential Muslim
organization Nahdlatul Ulama, Mustofa Bisri, said the long-term
marginalization of people contributed to the current unrest.

"The reform (movement) arrived with the determination to end
the culture of violence here and remind Indonesians to stick
together," Mustofa said.

Meanwhile, the Antara news agency reported from Ambon that
Sunday mass was conducted under the watchful eyes of security
personnel.

Thousands of refugees left their shelters to join the mass at
the Silo church, where sermons urged an end to the violence.

Witnesses have said refugees, many of whom lost relatives in
the violence this year, were involved in pelting public transport
during last week's incident.

As of Sunday evening, calm had returned to the capital. While
many businesses were open, only a few shoppers ventured out for
daily needs, which have increased in price since the trouble
erupted last week. (27/21/anr/43)