Research on sectarian riots to be conducted

JAKARTA (JP): Two prestigious state-run universities will cooperate with the Ministry of Religious Affairs to conduct a study on why riots erupted across the country over the past two years.

Antara quoted Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher as saying Wednesday in Denpasar, Bali that the researchers at Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University and the University of Indonesia in Depok will begin the study next January.

Tarmizi said the research would involve experts from various disciplines as well as several religious figures and prominent people who would present their views as to why riots occurred in many parts of Indonesia.

"Through the research we hope to arrive at an objective understanding of the problem," the minister said.

A general observation showed that the riots were mostly triggered by social, political and economic problems rather than religious factors, he said.

He said the ministry had sent teams to the regions where riots had occurred.

Taher said the results of the research would be reported to President Soeharto and the public.

Taher reminded religious and community leaders in the provinces that there are some elements which pose a threat to religious harmony. He called on them to remain vigilant of people who aimed simply to provoke and disrupt the religious unity of the nation.

Taher stressed that all leaders must strive to maintain religious harmony among the communities.

Racial and sectarian clashes have erupted in many parts of the country, including earlier this year in West Kalimantan between the indigenous Dayak people and the migrant Madurese. Hundreds of people have fallen victim to the ethnic conflict there.

In East Java, West Java, East Timor and several other places, similar riots occurred late last year and earlier this year, especially as the political climate heated up prior to the May general election.

In Kediri, East Java, Regional Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman said that issues of ethnicity, religion and social class were often exploited by "irresponsible groups" seeking to disrupt peace and order.

He called on the public to be wary of efforts to pit one religious community against another.

"When there are riots, it's usually santri (students of Islamic boarding schools) and Moslems that are victimized," he was quoted by Antara as saying in an address at a gathering of ulemas and community leaders with local military leaders Wednesday evening.

"Those irresponsible people not only use simple methods in sowing hatred toward the government or other groups, but also exploit sophisticated means such as the Internet," he said. (swe)