National peacekeeping force needed to prevent new clashes in Ambon

Yayan GH Mulyana, Bogor, West Java

The recent recurrence of bloody Muslim-Christian battles in Ambon indicates that the Malino peace pact, which brought almost all the parties concerned together to agree to truce three years ago, requires additional measures to ensure a durable peace in the region.

Those measures should include the deployment of a "national peacekeeping mission" -- comprised of soldiers from each of the divisions of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and civilian police -- shortly after a renewed peace commitment is achieved. This deployment of troops should coincide with post-conflict reconstruction missions and measures to address the root causes of the conflict.

Deployment of a sizable TNI and state police contingent is essential for a certain period sufficient to ensure that peace is adhered to in line with the Malino pact. Security matters after an inter-communal conflict of high magnitude -- such as the one in Ambon -- cannot just be taken for granted. It requires an assurance, and the presence of a national peacekeeping force in the region would assure that all parties concerned held to the truce commitment and were willing to restrain themselves from resorting to use of force when differences or minor skirmishes recur.

A key mandate in the peacekeeping operation would also be disarming civilians involved in the conflicts. Guns and other light weapons of war have contributed to the large number of casualties in the Ambon conflict. As weapons have been smuggled through Ambon's sea routes, professional navy patrols in the surrounding coastal areas should also be installed to support the disarmament process.

After calm is restored, the post-conflict reconstruction mission should begin. This mission would consolidate peace, facilitate all parties concerned in meeting their commitment to peace, and prevent the recurrence of conflict. It should be built upon four pillars: Nation-building, economic reconstruction, institution building and public administration.

The nation-building pillar is imperative as the recent conflict in Ambon was sparked by a group of secessionists. Unlike previous conflicts, the current conflicts in Ambon feature religious-secessionism issues. Most of those involved in the call for the restoration of the Republic of South Maluku (RMS) are said to be Moluccan Christians.

It is, however, important to note that the majority of Christian Moluccans generally oppose the secessionist movement. Both Christian and Muslim Moluccans resolutely hope for a lasting peace, and Ambon, under the framework of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia, in which Muslims and Christians can live in harmony and serenity, and in which they have a better chance to build a more prosperous and livable Moluccas as the regional Autonomy Law is implemented properly.

Nation-building projects may include the development of inter- religious dialog forums involving youths and traditional leaders as well as physical projects involving Muslims and Christian Ambonese, such as joint night patrols and joint operations of crisis centers.

Engaging women in such projects is recommended. They can complement the existing efforts with their own ways and sensitivity. The reviving of indigenous modalities for conflict resolutions such as the pela gandong is also an important project in nation-building.

Other important elements of the project are the development of a culture of prevention and the internalization of culture of peace, through, among other things, local folklore and narratives that depict vintage years when Muslim-Christian harmony was widespread.

The Ambon conflict has resulted in the destruction of economic infrastructure and economic activities have ground to a halt. Economic recovery may include physical reconstruction of economic centers, including public markets and the creation of an environment in which Muslim and Christian economic players feel secure and confident in doing business. The reconstruction should also include the repair of all utilities, including electricity and safe drinking water.

Another essential element of the economic recovery program is job creation. This can be pursued by the development of small and medium scale enterprises, including home industries and cooperatives, the development of local markets and the promotion of training, especially for the many wayward youths.

When civilians previously involved in the conflict are suitably equipped to enter the job market, they will be allowed to reintegrated into their communities. Having permanent jobs also has a preventive component. Youths with stable jobs will think twice about participating in another destructive conflict that will ruin the economy and result in the loss of their jobs.

The economic recovery program should also ensure that public services function, including banks, information sources (print and electronic media) and transportation services. Domestic investment should also be encouraged. Intercity and interprovincial commercial relationships should also be developed. Dependable service delivery is essential to those efforts.

The institutional building pillar focuses on the rebuilding and reopening of public facilities, especially mosques and churches, as well as residential buildings. The establishment of mixed teams involving both Muslims and Christians in those institutional building projects is important. This pillar may also include the reconstruction of villages and the reinstatement of ownership upon property left by their holders who were internally displaced. This project is vital to the reintegration of many internally displaced Ambonese to their communities.

This pillar may also include the promotion of human rights education and human right advocacy groups. A person's human dignity tends to be violated in conflict situations. Women and children usually experience the severest violations. Human rights education for all people and local government apparatus can have a deterrence effect, preventing civilian combatants from ravaging the basic rights and freedom of men and women, adults and children in a conflict zone.

The public administration pillar would ensure that the local government is up and running and able to serve the needs of the people. During the conflict public services have come to a standstill. Public servants need to get back to work so they can help respond to the public's needs for immediate services, from the issuance of identity papers (KTP) and certificates of property ownership to the provision of clean water, phone and electrical lines and postal services.

International assistance to help build a durable peace in Ambon could also be welcomed, but this should be under the direction and coordination of the Indonesian government. International aid agencies should have local sensitivity in order to gain trust and confidence of local people, both Muslims and Christians. Once they are accepted by all parties, this can work quietly and contribute to the reconstruction efforts significantly.

The national peacekeeping operation should continue its presence as the security element of the post-conflict reconstruction mission in Ambon. The reduction and withdrawal of the security forces will depend on the progress achieved in the peace consolidation efforts in the region. It is also imperative for the President to appoint a Special Representative for Mollucas Affairs mandated to direct and supervise the implementation of the peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction mission in Ambon. The special representative should work in the field, not in Jakarta, and report regularly to the President in a professional, responsible and impartial manner.

The writer is a Fulbright Programme Alumnus.