Social conflict reach alarming levels

JAKARTA (JP): Political scientists and observers warned on Wednesday that the recent spate of racial and religious conflicts would heighten in the coming year if fundamental societal issues were continually exploited for political ends.

"Racial conflict has reached a dangerous level because societal issues have been manipulated to serve people's self interests," said political scientist J. Kristiadi at a year-end media conference held here by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Also attending were CSIS economists Mari Pangestu and Pande Radja Silalahi and international relations experts Hadi Soesastro and Rizal Sukma.

"I'm afraid this will continue until the next election," Kristiadi added.

He pointed to the events of the past two weeks as signs of worsening horizontal social conflicts.

Parts of West and Central Jakarta were rocked by ethnic and religious unrest on Nov. 22 that left 14 people dead and nearly two dozen places of worship, mostly churches, burned or damaged.

To exacerbate the situation, the usually quiet East Nusa Tenggara provincial capital of Kupang, whose residents are predominantly Christian, on Monday erupted in a riot which was described as retaliation for the destruction in Jakarta.

Four mosques and several buildings were burned.

Kristiadi expressed fear that due to the short time remaining before the June general election, some of the newly emerging political parties contesting the poll could exploit these issues to garner support.

"I can't imagine that these political parties will have time to sell political issues which put forward rationality," he warned.

Speaking to journalists after the briefing, political observer Harry Tjan Silalahi concurred with Kristiadi's ominous warning. saying that societal issues remained an easy way to woo people of a common group to unite for a political purpose.

When these issues were expounded, he said, these groups would evolve to become self-righteous, disregarding respect for others.

Religion, Harry said, was the most-often used vehicle.

"And it's been indicated by many religious leaders that there have been parties who use it for political means ... this is dangerous," he said.

But Harry also noted that it was the underlying qualities of every religion -- compassion, tolerance and understanding -- which could fight such tendencies and bond the nation together.

As an example Harry said Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Abdurrahman Wahid could unite the nation with his creed of Ukhuwah Islamiyah (Islamic Brotherhood) and Ukhuwah Watoniyah (National brotherhood).

Another critical issue which came up at the briefing was the need to address the Armed Forces' (ABRI) role in politics.

Kristiadi said ABRI's "new paradigm" still needed further elaboration.

"ABRI's presence in politics won't change if it has yet to change its structure of thinking," he said.

He cited how ABRI still adhered to a way of thinking that the nation was under threat from separatists who needed to be repressed.

"If ABRI wants to be the state's instrument (instead of the ruler's) and the protector of the people, it must change its structure of thinking," Kristiadi said.

For the nation to break out of its current political impasse, both Kristiadi and Harry suggested political elites -- from within the government, the Armed Forces and society at large -- negotiate a way out of the political impasse.

Kristiadi said such "national negotiations" would be aimed at finding an agenda to save the nation.

Harry added that "a national dialog is needed to break the political impasse happening now -- thus we must not stop only with formalities and legality ... meaning not only in the MPR. We must look for a breakthrough."

Harry suggested a "Ciganjur Plus" forum referring to a meeting of four influential community figures -- Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Perjuangan, Amien Rais of the National Mandate party (PAN) and Yogyakarta's Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X -- on Nov. 12.

"This time, the Armed Forces (ABRI) must be invited too, whether you like it or not," Harry stated.

"And the students must be made more visible," he added. (aan)