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Accountablity
for violence key for peace in Maluku
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The
Jakarta Post
January
20, 2003
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Accountablity for violence key
for peace in Maluku
Ati Nurbaiti,
Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
The makeshift market under the
ruins of the former Mardika market was bustling on Jan. 19, the
Sunday which marked the fourth anniversary of Maluku's devastating
conflict. A "reflection" session had been planned at the
quiet Al Fatah mosque and melodious hymns were heard from mass at
Maranatha Church nearby. Working each day to get along, residents
beyond the two symbols of what became a vicious divide, are on the
watch out for "provocateurs" who they would blame for
any further violence.
But unless the most demanding
questions are resolved following massacres, destruction and forced
eviction, citizens here would conclude that the state does not
care that they are left to bear grudges toward one another despite
all efforts at peace. Unlike the case of Aceh in which the state
is clearly a party to the conflict, the unresolved question
remains of who is responsible for the thousands who lost their
homes and family members in Maluku since early 1999.
There is still trust in the
government. Many hope for a thorough follow up of police
interrogations regarding the suspected association between a gang
of hoodlums, the Christian Boys (Coker), and the Army's Special
Forces, although "it is very embarrassing for
Christians," says Father C. J. B”hm of the Catholic church
here. Both Christians and Muslims wait for the answer to whether
the association goes way back to the start of the violence in
January 1999, or even earlier incidents such as the clash on the
isle of Dobo near the southern part of Papua.
Investigation and prosecution of
those responsible "would be consistent with the Malino
Declaration," says Protestant youth leader John Ruhulessyn,
citing the government-sponsored agreement signed in the Malino
town in Central Sulawesi between the warring parties. Because the
involvement of Coker is not entirely conclusive, he said, "we
await the results of the independent investigating team"
working on the Maluku clashes.
The incident last Tuesday in which
a homemade bomb hurt one passerby and injured two others, and in
which another died of injuries due to an assault by locals,
"is a sign that things are not quite conducive yet," he
said.
The suspected presence of
"provocateurs" and fatigue over war has led to restraint
following frequent bomb threats and explosions, particularly after
the Malino deal was signed last Feb. 23. Casualties of each
incident are considered unfortunate but eventually seen as an
acceptable way "to let out anger" -- though activists
and traditional leaders worry about people taking the law into
their own hands. Three passing vehicles had their windows smashed
last Tuesday and a vehicle of the Ambon diocese was set on fire
following suspicions that the bomb was thrown from one of the
passing vehicles.
Although the suspicions regarding
the Ambon-based gang have yet to be proved in court, the suggested
involvement of a third party makes everyone a victim of the evil
deeds of an outsider way beyond their grasp, in this case a state
party, the special forces.
Similarly the exit and disbanding
of Laskar Jihad was news welcomed with "rejoicing," a
resident said, who like many think the militia, like the Maluku
Sovereignty Forum (FKM), which is associated with Christians, had
worsened the conflict.
A thorough follow up of
investigations would settle doubts of whether the responsibility
lies only on Coker and the special forces, or Laskar Jihad alone,
for the violence of more than three years triggered by a squabble
involving a public transport driver on Jan. 19, 1999. The
respected ustadz or Islamic teacher Ali Fauzi is convinced
that it was a well organized scheme of the Christians to massacre
Muslims, perhaps because Muslims were becoming dominant in the
economy and also the bureaucracy.
Among advocates of peace, this has
been the incorrect political view, a view the majority would wish
to avoid. Yet it cannot be ignored, as it is echoed by others
including those in the Muslim refugee camps.
The elderly ustadz whose
house was also set on fire says, "Who on earth wants to
remain enemies forever? But making peace must remain a natural
process and should not be imposed. And unless the government
displays a will to get to the bottom of this, people can make
peace all they want, but there can never be lasting peace."
After the initial fight in that
afternoon of January 1999 troops had arrived in a matter of hours
in Ambon, hence many question how in the following days and
months, so many military and police units, each involving their
elite squads, failed to quell violence in the 10-kilometer-square
town center -- violence which spread to other towns, villages and
hamlets in the small island of Ambon and other tiny, remote dots
on the Maluku map.
Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the
Yogyakarta monarch and governor, who is helping to facilitate
reconciliation among traditional Muslim and Christian leaders,
represents those who express that prosecution may not be
productive now, when "the awareness of Maluku people (for
peace) is amazing".
Bringing the guilty to justice is
last on the list of a gradual process of the Baku Bae peace
movement here, which earlier helped Muslim and Christian lawyers
campaign for law enforcement and "demand responsibility from
the state". The activists including former warlords of both
sides in the conflict had said that peace was "a dirty
word" in Maluku, given so many attempts at peace in contrast
with continuous killings and arson which the authorities could not
prevent.
Hence initial, more feasible phases
of peace making included the facilitation of social and economic
rights such as setting up "neutral zones" for
transaction spots, which started from seven brazen traders into
the current market, and assisting access to education and health.
Ali Fauzi thinks that the process
coordinated by Ichsan Malik, a lecturer on conflict resolution at
the University of Indonesia, who is trying similar attempts in
other conflict areas, is "a waste of money".
An activist of the Caring Women's
Movement confirms that the word peace is avoided. "We just
look out for each other, reminding our youngsters against
provocation, and hold many activities together," said Ena
Tatuhe, one of the Muslim women who set up the movement with
Protestant and Catholic women.
Father B”hm also says that
religious leaders have not been able to talk explicitly about
peace. Hence investigations must be conducted and justice done, he
said. Despite the improving conditions, "if people feel they
are deceived things may take a bad turn". He noted how people
are "so easily influenced by their leaders", citing the
crowds who greeted Alex Manuputty, the FKM leader who arrived here
on Jan. 11 with National Police chief Gen. Dai Bachtiar. Manuputty
is on trial for subversion in Jakarta.
Father B”hm expresses
appreciation for the man in charge of the civil emergency
administration, Governor ad interim Sinyo Harry Sarundayang, who
is "less confused" and "more daring" compared
to predecessors. He adds he has "much confidence" in
Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf Kalla and
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, who he says give the impression of having
resolve in ending the Maluku strife.
And while people are watching
whether law enforcement will stop at sacrificing Berty, the Coker
hoodlums, they expect local authorities to do a better job in
maintaining law and order -- and they expect compassion.
During a raid on motorists
recently, a local shouted, "You stand by during massacres and
raid us for papers!"
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