Military contributes to Maluku conflict: Kontras

Military contributes to Maluku conflict: Kontras

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Ambon

Human rights watchdog, the Commission for Missing Persons and
Victims of Violence (Kontras) blamed the escalating tension in
Maluku on the lack of law enforcement and poor coordination
between the security and civilian authorities.

Kontras coordinator Ori Rachman pointed out that the latest
gunfight in Ambon between members of the Army's Special Force
(Kopassus) and police officers in Kudamati, Ambon, on Tuesday was
a reflection of how the security forces in Maluku have been
involved in the conflict and have disregarded civilian authority.

"The presence of the local military and police in war-torn
provinces has actually contributed to the escalation of
violence... This proves that the security approach is not able
to solve the conflicts. What is happening in Ambon is similar to
the conflict in Papua, Aceh and other parts of the country," he
told a media conference here on Thursday.

He cited examples of the involvement of Kopassus in numerous
human right abuses in East Timor, Aceh and Papua.

He warned that the call for the imposition of a martial law is
increasing, a new move that will give more power to the military
and worsen the conflict. The proposed martial has met opposition
from civilian figures.

He said the government needed the guns to help restore
security and order but a more human and peaceful approach to
solve the conflicts.

Maluku Governor Saleh M. Latuconsina said after briefing
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono that the province did not need military
reinforcement but rather improved coordination among officials.

He also said his province was in urgent need of law enforcers,
especially judges and prosecutors, and security equipment to
disarm supporters of conflicting factions.

He acknowledged that Laskar Jihad which had entered Maluku
over the last two years was a headache because he did not know
how to expel it as required by the Malino peace deal.

He said he was still optimistic that the conflict that started
to erupt on Jan. 19, 1999 and has since claimed more than 6,000
lives, would end peacefully provided that all authorities in the
province united, left their own interests behind and pursued the
implementation of the Malino peace agreement and the central
government's recent directives.

Tensions in Maluku have been growing again after the signing
of the Malino peace agreement on Feb. 12.

South Maluku Republic (RMS) movement chairman Alex Manuputty
who has been under arrest since April 17, was transferred to
Jakarta on Thursday under the custody of the National Police for
his trial to be held in the near future.

The National Police announced that they would take over the
investigation into the Manuputty case.

Police officials said on Thursday that factors taken into
consideration in making this decision included possible
disruptions to the investigation like intimidation of police
investigators, continuing clashes amongst local security forces
and Muslim and Christian communities in riot-torn Maluku.

Sources at National Police Headquarters said that forces of
the militant Muslim group Laskar Jihad were angered over the
arrest of their leader Ja'far Umar Thalib.

One source said that Laskar Jihad forces would continue to
intimidate Maluku Police, as long as Manuputty was being
questioned in Maluku.

"Laskar Jihad forces believe that even though Manuputty has
been arrested, he is still near his rebels in Maluku and his
rebels draw strength from the fact that Manuputty is in Maluku,
whereas Ja'far, is far off in Jakarta. Jihad fighters want
Manuputty out of Maluku as well," a senior official at National
Police Headquarters told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Ja'far is charged with inciting the attack of the Christian
village of Soya on April 28, which claimed 14 lives.