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.