Peace under threat

Although not totally unexpected, the bomb blast on Wednesday afternoon that shattered the two-month calm in Ambon, the provincial capital of Maluku, has sent shockwaves through the country. The incident is a stark reminder to Indonesians everywhere that a lasting peace in Ambon, or in any other conflict-prone area in the country, for that matter, cannot be taken for granted, given the length of the conflict and the deep- rooted sentiments involved. Besides, some of the minority factions opposed to the Maluku peace deal reached in Malino, South Sulawesi, in February, have made no bones about their unhappiness with the arrangement and have vowed to continue their resistance.

As for the vast majority of the Ambon population, it seems safe to say that they deplore Wednesday's violent attack, which brutally halted their hopes for a return of peace and normalcy to their once idyllic city after years of bloodshed. The celebrations, expressions of joy and parades by Muslims and Christians in Ambon after the peace deal was signed are still fresh in the memory, but Wednesday's bomb explosion has left all that hope hanging in the balance.

Details of what exactly happened on Wednesday in Ambon remained sketchy as of Thursday, with local security officials pledging to do everything within their power to investigate the case and find those responsible for the incident. In the meantime, pending an official account of the bombing and the subsequent attacks on a number of government offices in Ambon, Indonesians are well advised to remain calm and refrain from overreacting or spreading rumors about who may have been responsible for the bombing.

As the attacks on the government offices and the renewed emergence of communal divisions following Wednesday's bombing clearly show, sowing fresh seeds of distrust is precisely what the bomber, or bombers, aimed to achieve. Besides, the situation in Ambon is a good deal more complicated than it might appear to be on the surface, involving interests that have little to do with what the Ambon conflict is generally made out to be -- which is a conflict between religious or communal groups.

Surviving victims and eyewitnesses to Wednesday's bombing so far seem to differ in their accounts of what actually happened. According to some witnesses, the bomb was planted beneath a heap of discarded boxes near the Kafe Nelayan II, a karaoke bar in one of Ambon's busiest business areas. Other witnesses, however, say the bomb was thrown from a passing car into the middle of a crowd of people gathered in front of the establishment.

The one thing all the witnesses, as well as the authorities, seem to agree on is that the blast was caused by a high-powered device, such as likely could not have been assembled by a person without training. At least four people were killed and 58 wounded in the explosion. Hands, arms and legs were reportedly found across the street from the explosion.

There is no need to say that this latest violence constitutes a severe blow to the peace efforts that are underway in Ambon and in the province of Maluku in general. It seriously threatens to disrupt the peace accord, achieved with so much effort in February between the two main warring factions, the Christians and Muslims, and puts other peace deals elsewhere, such as in Poso, in danger. Even now, parts of Maluku are still under a state of civil emergency as the authorities try to familiarize the population with the Malino peace accord.

Wednesday's bombing has made it abundantly clear, however, that official calls for calm and common sense from the population are simply not enough. If anything, it has shown that the authorities, not only in Maluku but in Jakarta as well, are not showing enough urgency in resolving the conflict once and for all. The momentum provided by the spontaneous expressions of communal cohesion in the wake of the peace accord was thus allowed to pass by.

Most urgent of all, law enforcement in Maluku must be restored and all of the stipulations contained in the Malino peace accord must be realized. So far, the authorities seem to have done little to make true their promise to do this and to rebuild the judicial machinery necessary for effective law enforcement.

A truly professional and impartial police and military is essential for ensuring peace and order in the community, so much depends on the success of these two institutions in reforming and reorganizing themselves. Credible non-governmental institutions and organizations, such as Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah and the Catholic and Protestant churches could no doubt do much to help further the peace efforts in Maluku.

If there is any good to be had from Wednesday's bombing, it is that it has brought to light the need for greater urgency on the part of all those concerned with restoring peace in Maluku, Ambon in particular.