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The
deployment of elite troops to keep the peace may be its attempt to
impose martial law in the region, say experts
By
Derwin
Pereira
INDONESIA CORRESPONDENT
JAKARTA - The Indonesian armed forces (TNI) has been accused of
imposing 'concealed martial law' on the trouble-torn Maluku
islands after initial attempts to impose it through the proper
channels met with widespread opposition.
The TNI has deployed elite troops there as a show of force and
to carry out 'sweeping operations' against groups inciting
religious violence.
The generals made clear that the decision to appoint
Major-General Djoko Santoso, who concurrently heads the regional
military command there, was aimed at uniting efforts by the
authorities to end the protracted conflict.
A state of civil emergency was declared in northern Maluku in
June 2000 while an oft-broken peace deal between warring Christian
and Muslim extremists was signed in February this year.
Major-General Djoko would now be assisted by a one-star police
officer which is in contradiction with the law.
Indonesian law states that the police are in charge of security
with the military in charge of defence matters and, if needed,
back up the police.
Observers said that it could be the 'first step' of a
calculated military attempt to impose martial law in the region.
Military analyst Indria Samego of the Indonesian Institute of
Social Sciences (Lipi) told The Straits Times: 'This is really de
facto martial law without the legal underpinnings. The military
has been given the powers over the police and the civilian
administration to end the conflict.'
But contrary to arguments from non-governmental organisations
that it could worsen the situation especially in the capital of
Ambon, Dr Indria argued that putting the military charge could
bring peace in an area where more than 5,000 people have been
killed in sectarian violence over the past three years.
'The sceptics might have got it wrong,' he said.
'I think putting in more military troops into the area offers a
solution to a conflict that has not been managed well by the
police.'
The military is in the process of dispatching the 503rd
Airborne Battalion of the elite Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad)
to the region. Last week, one company was flown in.
Two more companies and a support unit stationed in Malang, East
Java, were being prepped for action to join soldiers of the 411st
infantry battalion stationed in the Malukus.
If the plan went through without any hiccups, military strength
in the territory would stand at less than a thousand to fight an
estimated 700 extremists there.
Some, however, doubt whether sending in more soldiers will
actually help to reduce tensions.
Political observer Ken Conboy from the Control Risks Group
noted: 'The TNI is obviously taking advantage of a window of
opportunity here to end the violence. There has been a lull in the
fighting in recent weeks, the area is small, and the number of
radicals there finite.
'But they need to have military superiors that will give
clear-cut instructions. That is not yet evident.'
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