Riot-hit areas told to start healing process

Riot-hit areas told to start healing process

JAKARTA (JP): Administrations in riot-hit areas need to make
simple, concerted and intensive efforts to start healing wounds,
representatives of Muslim organizations and a sociologist said on
Sunday.

Dialog and persuasion, in addition to local communal leaders
taking a hands-on strategy to addressing problems, were strongly
recommended.

An executive of the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul
Ulama, Fajrul Falaakh, said residents of the Maluku capital of
Ambon, which was torn by communal unrest in recent days, should
immediately start working together to rebuild damaged mosques and
churches.

"Build mosques, churches, houses, together. The structures do
not have to be so terrific, but it is the intention that counts,"
Fajrul told The Jakarta Post.

"After that, people can continue their traditional peace-
making rituals."

Leaders of the Maluku community in Jakarta and Ambon have
urged traditional peace rites to heal any differences which might
have led to the conflict.

Fajrul said people could not simply kiss and make up after
such discord, "but they cannot stay forever in a fearful and
hostile mood".

Ambon is the latest area in the country to be rocked by
communal hostilities. Police said 54 people died and about 20,000
fled the city as mobs burned business establishments and houses
of worship.

In East Nusa Tenggara, authorities are still trying to restore
harmony following clashes in November in which 26 died. The
reported trigger was suspected discrimination in the recruitment
of civil servants, favoring an ethnic group close to local
authorities.

The chairman of the second largest Muslim organization
Muhammadiyah, Syafi'i Ma'arif, added Sunday that settling the
disputes locally was the only way to end feuding.

He said it would be possible in Ambon because community
leaders acknowledged previously harmonious relations.

"The only hope we have is for all religious and communal
leaders in riot-hit areas to truly enlighten followers about the
danger of provocative action, and lead them to restraint."

Support from local non-governmental organizations is also
crucial, he added.

"(Locals) need to coordinate with each other and (the
government) always seems to be late in anticipating the
incidents. So let's protect ourselves by strengthening unity."

Fajrul slammed the government for lacking a sense of crisis
and overuse of rhetoric.

With the damage already done, Syafii said, the local
administration was expected to be active in approaching and
accommodating all citizens.

University of Indonesia sociologist J.F. Waraow also said the
local government should depend more on persuasion to solve
disputes.

Both Syafii and Fajrul questioned the Armed Forces'
sensitivity in acting to quell disputes.

"Firm action by the Armed Forces is needed, but it has to be
completed with wisdom and ability to analyze and map out the
problem," Syafi'i said.

"This is what they lack."

He cited the "stupid and dangerous" raid on alleged separatist
leader Ahmad Kandang in Lhokseumawe, Aceh, which led to 21
civilian deaths.

Fajrul said the deployment of troops from the Strategic Army
Reserves Command to Ambon was of little use due to what he
considered their lack of understanding of the situation.

The military, he said, should support conciliatory efforts
among residents. Both NU and Muhammadiyah have approached
community leaders in Maluku to lower tensions.

Syafii and Fajrul urged people in affected areas to renounce
any desire for vengeance.

Syafii said leaders should continue messages to instill peace
instead of inciting discord through discussions of religious and
ethnic differences.

There were instances, such as in Central Java, where local
community leaders "gave up" on brawling residents intent on
getting even, he said.

"I know that it is hard to just forgive and forget after the
burnings and killings ... but there's no other way than to cast
aside our egotism. In Ambon, for instance, I believe most of the
residents there want peace. So start the reconciliation."

Continued communal rioting is part of a "chronic" condition,
he added, with the teaching of the state ideology Pancasila,
which stresses harmony, religion and learning from history,
having failed.

Separately, sociologist Waraow said persuasive measures,
mainly by the local government, were needed at the grassroots
level in addressing ignorance and poverty born from the economic
crisis.

"These people are usually poor both regarding economy and
education," he said.

"So start fixing the roots of problems which is poverty, and
talk to them in their language. Do not give rhetoric."

Minister of Religious Affairs Malik Fajar said on Saturday the
riots were indications many provincial people could not cope with
the enormous impact of the reform movement.

Speaking after the inauguration of a Buddhist temple on Batam
island, Riau, Malik said "provocateurs" were triggering riots and
believed that "actually the religious life of the nation is not
disturbed".

Over the weekend, a joint call for tolerance and unity was
raised by the Association of Indonesian Christian Intellectuals
and North Sumatra's branch of the Indonesian Ulema Council, the
Communion of Churches in Indonesia, representation of the
Indonesian Buddhist Community and Medan's bishop. (01/21/edt)