Violence in Maluku

Violence in Maluku

I regret Donna K. Woodward's letter Gen. Wiranto's Berlin
Wall? in The Jakarta Post on Jan. 5, 2000. The violence in Maluku
involves conflict between Christians and Muslims. The former
wants to annihilate the latter. As history teaches us, if Muslims
are a minority in a country, they are always the target of the
majority of that country. Look at what happened in India, the
Philippines, China, USA, Europe, etc. On the other hand, if
Muslims are the majority, they do not disturb the minority, but,
instead, they protect them as we witness in this country.

Gen. Wiranto's proposal for territorial separation originally
came from the military team that went to Maluku some time ago.
This temporary separation is one possible alternative at the
moment that may curb the violence there.

Woodward's comment on Gen. Wiranto is not fair and is out of
proportion. It seems to me that she was talking out of hatred and
emotion which leads to ambiguity. No legal jeopardy has been
proven yet. What has taken place was the clarification of
information with the human rights committee. Woodward went too
far in proposing that Gen. Wiranto step down as coordinating
minister for political affairs and security. She only gave
provocative and harsh criticism but proposed no alternative to
solve the situation.

MUHD RAMZY HASIBUAN

Jakarta