'Politics behind sectarian conflict'

'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.