Separatism in Ambon, homework for government

Separatism in Ambon, homework for government

M. Azis Tunny, Ambon, Maluku

The presence of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) in Maluku has
been a source of controversy since it was established on June 15
four years ago by Dr. Alex Manuputty.

The organization, which aspires for an independent Maluku
Island or the South Maluku Republic, was set up only one year
after bloody sectarian conflict broke out in Ambon. It was
founded against a background of the central government's failure
to overcome the bloody sectarian conflict that rocked the Maluku
island, killing thousands of people and forcing hundreds of
thousand to flee the island.

The organization, of which most of the members are Christians,
has been small since its establishment, with only hundreds of
members. There have also been Muslim members in the organization.
Despite its small size, the presence of the FKM has been a pebble
in the shoe for the government in bringing peace in Maluku.

Executive director of the Maluku Interfaith for Humanity
Institute Reverend Jacky Manuputty claimed that the issue of
separatism could still trigger further conflict, as other issues
such as religious conflict in the Maluku islands had largely come
to an end. Religious conflict in Maluku subsided after the
signing of the Malino Peace Accord two years ago, and in
September last year, the civil emergency status was even lifted.

Sadly, Ambon was again rocked by violence in April.

"The latest conflict in April was shocking, but thank God,
people are no longer easily provoked. It was not sparked by
religious issues. The issue that may still spark conflict in
Maluku is separatism," he told The Jakarta Post at the Maluku
Protestant Church (GPM) Crisis Center secretariat on Tuesday.

He was referring to the latest melee in Maluku in which 39
people were killed and hundreds of others seriously wounded. The
two weeks of conflict began on April 25, sparked by the
celebration of the 54th anniversary of the South Maluku Republic
by the FKM.

The separatist celebration sparked anger among certain
Muslims, who then went on a rampage.

Despite the rampage, Muslims and Christians were largely
unprovoked. Religious conflicts did not break out on the island,
as it could be noticed that many of fatalities in the melee were
the killed by snipers. There were also no reports of widespread
fighting between Muslims and Christians. The situation was
totally different from the one in 1999, when Muslims and
Christians attacked and killed one another.

The shift in the issues behind the fresh outbreak of violence
raised questions about the root cause of the conflict. Most
blamed the FKM and the inability of security personnel to prevent
the conflict from escalating in Ambon, while others even
questioned whether the conflicts were intentionally orchestrated
by security personnel.

Many, mostly Muslims, questioned why the FKM was not
disbanded, creating an impression that it received preferential
treatment as opposed to the rebels of the Free Aceh Movement in
Aceh or the Free Papua Movement in Papua.

"Is it purely a case of separatism in Maluku per se or is it
conceptualized to avenge and prolong the conflict? People also
questioned why Alex Manuputty, who was sentenced to prison, was
able to flee to the U.S. after the sentence was imposed, and
there was no official explanation from the government," said
Jacky, the Christian delegation signatory to the Malino accord.

He said that since the conflict broke out in 1999, the issue
of separatism as the sole cause of the conflict had been
propounded by several government officials and politicians.

The conflict continued and Maluku Christians were stigmatized
by an emerging perception that being a Maluku Christian was the
same as being a member of the RMS as nearly all of its leaders
and members in Maluku are Christians.

"Not all Christians are separatists. We felt cornered as RMS
was twisted into meaning "Republik Maluku Sarani" (South Maluku
Christians). There was conflict within the minds of Christians
who tried to resist being provoked by the stigma, because as a
consequence we would be confronted by our Muslim brothers and the
Indonesian Military or police personnel," he said.

Similarly, the executive director of the Ambon Case Settlement
advocating team, Zairin Salampessy, a Muslim, blamed the conflict
in Ambon on April 25 on the actions of security personnel.
According to him, the conflict was intentionally allowed to
develop.

"It was clear demonstrated on the eve of the ceremony. Even
until the flag was hoisted, security forces were nowhere to be
seen near the location. Only after the flag was hoisted, followed
by the singing of the RMS anthem and speech by FKM secretary-
general Moses Tuwanakotta, security personnel showed up at the
location," he said.

The riot which was sparked by the FKM/RMS parade, according to
Zairin, was not the main trigger of the conflict. According to
him, the police's inability to anticipate the flag-hoisting
ceremony, even the impression created by the police escorting the
parade to the police headquarters, was deemed as the cause.

"Moreover, upon reaching the police headquarters, only 24
people who claimed to be FKM/RMS members were detained, while a
large part of the crowd was released and walked home in groups.
On their way home, they were confronted by groups claiming to be
Indonesian supporters, who later swelled into a mass
concentration of people and they attacked one another," he
explained.

He suggested that during the post-conflict lull, the
government should immediately facilitate dialog between religious
and community leaders.