Polarization caused riots in Ujungpandang: Nasikun

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The ferocity of last week's riots in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, has prompted much soul-searching into what a sociologist describes as the segmentation of societal relations.

Sociologist Nasikun of Gadjah Mada University suggests that a lack of sincere interaction between elements in society has created a polarization between differing ethnic, religious and economic groups.

He said the situation was exasperated further by the public leaning toward a perceived "coalition" between certain bureaucrats and groups.

This coalition, Nasikun explained, was superimposed by ethnic and economic elements.

Long-time frustrations, as a result of this lack of interaction and "coalition", are thus easily aroused when any actor identified as part of the opposing group commits a public offense.

"That's what can be clearly seen in the case of the Ujungpandang riots," he said.

"It happened to be Chinese ethnicity that triggered the riots. In fact, many more factors can trigger and provoke people into violence," he added.

Nasikun remarked that in this particular case, the ethnic Chinese man was seen as representing a powerful group in society while the girl was seen as representing the subordinate Makasarese.

The death of a nine-year-old Makassar girl by a machete- wielding ethnic Chinese man sparked two days of rioting in Ujungpandang.

The man, who was later killed in revenge by a mob, was reportedly mentally ill.

In the aftermath of the riots, Ujungpandang was left with six dead people and hundreds of destroyed buildings.

Ujungpandang mayor Malik B. Masry said over the weekend that the riot resulted in Rp 17,9 billion in damages.

Economic factors might have also played an important role.

Nasikun said the indigenous population might have felt sidelined from the commercial activities of the city.

"It's quite possible that the increasing dominance of the ethnic Chinese society in Ujungpandang's economy was thought of by the indigenous people as due to the bureaucrats' support for the ethnic Chinese population," he said.

The significance of economic factors in the riots was highlighted further in Ujungpandang when a visiting delegation from the National Commission on Human Rights, headed by secretary-general Baharuddin Lopa, recommended the formation of a small team to look into economic disparities.

The team would comprise of the city administration, the Ministry of Manpower, the regional military command and other relevant authorities. The team would be tasked with overseeing the improvement of the welfare of workers and other low-income groups.

Nasikun himself was foreboding as he warned that economic discontent and societal discord -- elements prevailing in the Ujungpandang riots -- may well be brewing in other parts of the country.

"We have to avoid monopolies by particular societal groups, especially when they have something to do with the economy," he added. (swa/31)