'TNI exercises won't ease tension in Maluku'
'TNI exercises won't ease tension in Maluku'
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Ambon and Jakarta based non-governmental organizations
representing groups in restive Maluku, opposed the Indonesian
Military's plan to stage war games in the area for fear of
creating wider conflict.
The lack of coordination between security personnel and the
governor, as well as the frequent clashes between police and the
military, has resulted in widespread distrust among the people.
In addition, the police and military's involvement in the
conflict, by taking sides with the warring factions, has left
security personnel partial, giving the impression that they are
not there to protect the public.
"I don't think a greater military presence in the province
will help achieve or restore the situation, especially if they
are merely there to change the conflict area to a training
field," Sven Loupatty, chief of Hualopu Maluku Foundation told
The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the seminar called
Resolution and Reconstruction of the Social Conflict in Ambon on
Wednesday.
The conflict in the area has become even more complicated than
when the conflict first erupted in 1999, he said, thus those who
are without sincere intentions to help the people and solve the
conflict should not enter Ambon because their presence there
would worsen the conflict.
The Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Commander, Lt.
Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu who was in Ambon, disclosed to the media
on Tuesday the military would hold joint exercises that would
involve combat troops from the Army, Navy and Air Force in
efforts to help restore security and order.
Ryamizard also warned security personnel about maintaining
their neutrality and loyalty to their institution and the state
in carrying out their mission in the conflict area. He suggested
that soldiers loyal to their home of origin and religion leave
the military service.
Sarlito Wirawan Sarwono, dean of the school of psychology of
the University of Indonesia, who has run a crisis center in the
area, said that an alternative solution to conflict was to find
the provocateurs behind the prolonged conflict.
He also suggested the central government and the provincial
administration should enhance coordination in enforcing the law.
Ichsan Malik, a member of the team promoting peace among the
conflicting groups in the province, suggested the military
conduct their training elsewhere and the government start
reducing the military presence since their presence is considered
unhelpful.
"In Ambon, the TNI and the police are part of the problem. It
would be better if their number were reduced to a minimum if the
government were to send people who are more committed to bringing
peace to the area,"
Ichsan also called on the military to begin recognizing the
civilian government and start collaborating to resolve the
prolonged conflict that has claimed more than 6,000 lives and
displaced more than 750,000 people to other provinces.
Most participants of the seminar were of the same opinion,
that the central government was unable to end the conflict
despite the Malino II peace agreement, which has proved
ineffective.
One of the clauses in the agreement is to anticipate and take
stern measures on separatist movements such as the South Maluku
Republic (RMS) who caused havoc when RMS celebrated its
anniversary on April 25.
"The government are quite aware of this event, yet nothing was
done beforehand," said Abdul Gani Fabanyo from the Maluku People
Empowerment Agency.
The Maluku Women's Coalition said that as the government and
its security apparatus had failed to create peace, more and more
people have placed their hope in patron organizations such as
Laskar Jihad and RMS to provide them with protection.
Yet, many believe the conflict in the area is not sectarian
because people from both religious communities had been living in
harmony over the last two years.
They suspected there are certain people or sides, outside of
the area, who were trying to prolong the conflict.