What's up in Ambon

The recent spate of bombings and reports this week of new arms caches found in Ambon indicate how fragile is the peace that was achieved with so much effort in Maluku.

But despite the recent tension, it's fair to say that important progress has been made in the province since a trivial argument between a minibus driver and a local tough in January 1999 sparked three years of communal strife and claimed the lives of nearly 10,000 people. Indeed, if the public's relatively composed reaction in Ambon to these latest incidents is taken as a measure of their maturity when facing the threat of renewed violence, then fears of a conflagration on the scale of the 1999 conflict seem unwarranted. This is, of course, provided all parties with an interest in seeing the strife prolonged refrain -- or are prevented -- from disrupting the peace efforts.

The renewed tension in Ambon was triggered by an incident in April, when fighting broke out after the anniversary celebration of a group of separatists calling itself the Republic of South Maluku (RMS). According to reports, members of the group had already disbanded and were on their way home when they were attacked by nationalist supporters of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

Again, it must be noted that the group currently calling itself the RMS in Ambon represents a mere few hundred people in Maluku -- a far cry from the thousands of armed and fanatical followers in the original RMS separatist movement of the early 1950s. Most of the original RMS leaders are aging and live in voluntary exile in the Netherlands. To many observers, therefore, the authorities' focus on such an ostensibly insignificant group seems irrationally overblown.

Nevertheless, the bombings and the ongoing discovery of arms in the province is a strong reminder to both the authorities and the people of Maluku that enduring peace cannot be taken for granted. The latest incidents make it all too clear elements with an interest in seeing the peace disrupted are still at work for either financial or political gain. After all, without necessarily returning to the 1999-2000 emergency situation, a prolonged crisis situation in Ambon and Maluku could benefit certain parties. To paraphrase a report from the now-outlawed International Crisis Group (ICG): Occasional bombs and shootings are sufficient to persuade business people and property owners to pay for special protection.

Obviously, one party that stands nothing to gain from a perpetual crisis is the general community, including civil servants, business people and property owners. Under present circumstances, the first thing that must be done is to prevent outsiders from moving in to exploit the situation. The good work that has been done in recent years by members of the civil community in Maluku, such as the Bakubae movement, must also be maintained and encouraged.

In the years following the January 1999 incident, Indonesians and the world saw what responsible civil leaders with wisdom and understanding of local conditions could achieve to resolve even the most stubborn and complicated of conflicts. Without the selfless involvement of Maluku's religious and community leaders it is doubtful whether even the current level of unease and sporadic violence could have been achieved.

During these days of campaigning for the July 5 presidential elections, Indonesians have heard much talk about new governments helping the people. Ambon has shown what an effective civil community can accomplish to resolve its problems, provided those who are in power cooperate and do not stand in its way.