Solving Maluku conflict

Solving Maluku conflict

I am commenting on the front page article of The Jakarta Post
on May 13, titled Expelling militant groups from Maluku is not a
solution.

The article quotes a sociologist as saying: "When it does not
guarantee security, expelling those groups (Muslim militant group
Laskar Jihad and Christian militant group Laskar Kristus) will
not bring a major positive impact to Maluku".

I am sick and tired of statements that like that being given
prominence in the media. Such statements do not recommend any
solutions, only criticism and pessimism.

The Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, the IRA in Northern Ireland,
ETA in Spain, have been wreaking havoc among the civilian
population for dozens of years. The best security forces and
police tactics, the best politicians have not been able to put
these movements to rest. But the governments of the afflicted
countries and the police and security forces have not stopped
trying to stop these terrorist groups from doing more harm and
have not stopped trying to protect the civilian population.

In Maluku three years of sectarian conflict have taken 6,000
lives, maybe more, and not a single person has been jailed or
sentenced. Surely it can't be too difficult to identify the
perpetrators of terror, those who carry guns and sharp weapons on
the streets. How stupid can we be? Now at long last, the
government is issuing a directive ordering vigilantes (because
that is what Laskar Jihad and Laskar Kristus are, people who take
the law into their own hands) to be expelled from Maluku, and
launching door-to-door raids, disarming these vigilantes.

I would say to the government and especially to Coordinating
Minister Bambang Yudhoyono: Don't heed comments by Laskar Jihad,
sociologists and others who doubt the effectiveness of these
directives. Carry on and protect the civilian Muslim and
Christian populations alike.

I am sure most of the ordinary citizens of Indonesia like me,
applaud your action rather than inaction. I would say to you, be
forceful in trying to restore law and order. We can fight for our
causes in a democratic way, within the confines of law and order.
I am sure most ordinary Indonesian are behind you; we are all for
peace, we are all against violence and terror.

INKE MARIS

Jakarta