Responding to ethnic conflicts

Responding to ethnic conflicts

There has been a general increase in ethnic conflicts in the
country lately. The recent outbreak of an ethnic conflict in
Kramat Jati market, East Jakarta, is just one example. And Krmat
Jati was still tense on Feb. 25 following the clash between
traders.

Local people are afraid a "small" clash will spark a bigger
ethnic conflict. Security guards have striven to prevent the
situation from deteriorating by arranging a meeting between the
two conflicting groups. Irrespective of the possible involvement
of third parties, such conflicts have broken out in various
areas.

Have people lost their awareness of the need to preserve
national unity and integrity? Probably some people have lost this
awareness. The increasing tendency to gather together in separate
groups has become a common threat, causing the nation to be
divided.

The current economic and social crisis is perhaps one factor
that has led to this grouping. The crisis can cause people to
doubt the values of unity touted in the past. People tend to seek
protection among their own groups because they no longer
feel protected by the state.

As is happens, more and more groups representing regions have
emerged. These groups, which at first focused on improving the
welfare of their members, have been much influenced by the spirit
of regionalism and have even tended to mutate into ethnic groups.

To cope with the threat of such grouping, the government
should spare no effort in enforcing the laws of this country.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta