'Politics behind sectarian conflict'
Tiarma Siboro and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Noted religious leader Hasyim Muzadi blamed poor intelligence and political interests on Monday for the renewed violence in Poso, Central Sulawesi that has claimed at least nine lives since Sunday.
Hasyim, chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), called on religious leaders there to be proactive in containing the violence to prevent the town from plunging into further conflict.
"I believe the fresh violence in Poso is closely related to the weakening intelligence capability. I observe that both the military and the police are only responding to requests for help without any intention of foreseeing and preparing for possible security disturbances across the country.
"Sometimes we cannot see the roots of the problems. Strong coordination between security bodies in this country is, therefore, badly needed," Hasyim said on Monday on the sidelines of a seminar on Islam and radicalism here on Monday.
Bloody sectarian conflict in Poso had first erupted in early 1999, claiming no less than 2,000 lives and forcing thousands of residents to flee the area.
In December 2001, the government sponsored a peace accord known as the Malino Agreement between Muslim and Christian leaders, but the fragile peace deal could shatter following the fresh violence there which killed at least nine people.
The fresh violence took place only months after reinforcement troops were pulled out of Poso as peace was largely restored there.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, meanwhile, said on Monday intelligence officers must intensify operations to seek the perpetrators behind simultaneous attacks on three Christian villages -- Saatu, Pantangolemba and Pinedapa -- in Poso and also neighboring Morowali regency.
"To the perpetrators...I urge you to stop the violence which only sacrifices your people. And to police, I tell you not to hesitate to take stern measures against the people behind this clash, even if they are certain influential people from the past or even present," Susilo said during a press conference here on Monday.
Voicing similar concerns, rights observer Hendardi from the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Institute (PBHI), blamed the government on Monday for being half-hearted in enforcing law in the area.
"The incident stems from the government's half-hearted efforts to revolve the Poso conflicts," said Hendardi, referring to the Malino Agreement.
Separately, Poso and Morawali Students Forum in Jakarta claimed certain political interests were behind the conflicts in Poso.
"I wonder why violence occurs every time the government plans to withdraw its security personnel in Poso?" said Bernat Ndawu, who chairs the forum, during a meeting with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Monday.
Bernat warned the government that the attack may revive the sectarian conflicts in Poso, which has only enjoyed peace for two years after the signing of a peace deal in December 2001.
"The victims were mostly Christian. It may create suspicions among Christians that the incident was committed by followers of another religion. I believe that certain parties were behind the incidents that benefit from the sectarian conflicts," he said.