The Jakarta Post, 14 May 2002
'FKM, Laskar Jihad not the root of Maluku conflict'
JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of the National Moral Movement cross-religious group urged
the government on Monday to launch an investigation into the years of bloodshed in
Maluku as they believe the presence of Laskar Jihad and the Maluku
SovereigntyForum (FKM) is the mere tip of a bigger problem.
According to the Movement, both the native Muslim and Christian groups in Maluku
are longing for peace and willing to comply with the Malino II peace agreement, yet
elements from outside the area have triggered new conflicts with a further lossof life.
"A thorough investigation is needed to find out themastermind (of the conflict). Both
the Laskar Jihad and FKM is not necessarily the root-cause," Hasyim Muzadi,
chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Muslim organization, told reporters
after meeting Vice President Hamzah Haz at the latter'soffice.
As the people in Maluku lost trust in each other, they became prone to provocation
and resorted to retaliation after an incident, which was usually not investigated
thoroughly by the security apparatus, Hasyim said.
"There is always a possibility that a conflict is properly planned ... it's the
government's responsibility to investigatethis," he said, adding that if the government
failed to bringpeace to Ambon, it signified the government's failure to protect its
people.
Peace has yet to be permanently restored in Maluku despite the peace agreement
signed on Feb. 12 in the South Sulawesi town of Malino. The worst violence broke out
late in April when a group of armed people killed 12 people in Soya village, near the
provincial capital of Ambon.
Ismartono, who represented the Indonesian Council of Bishops (KWI) at the meeting,
said people in Ambon told the visiting members of the movement that perpetrators of
the Soya violence were outsiders.
"They said, the (perpetrators) didn't use the local language, and that no Ambonese
would have the capability of destroying a village in such a short time," Ismartono told
reporters.
According to the assessment of the Movement, the Malino II peace deal was aimed at
resolving the sectarian conflict but it did not address the conflict between people and
the state.
Earlier, during the opening ceremony of the Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah
congress, Hamzah supported the group's demand for stiff measures against FKM as
a condition for the former's withdrawal from Maluku.
He said Laskar Jihad could be pulled out if the government could guarantee the safety
of Muslims in Maluku.
"Of course action must be taken against FKM first and after the Muslims are no
longer threatened, the Laskar Jihad must also obey (orders to leave the area),"
Hamzah said.
Hamzah has drawn controversy for visiting Laskar Jihad leader Ja'far Umar Thalib, who
was arrested for allegedly provoking violence in Ambon. The government has insisted
on phasing out of Laskar Jihad from Maluku and taking actions against FKM in a bidto
restore peace in the province.
Ambon remained tense on Monday following Sunday's bombing in the
Diponegoro-Mangga Dua Ambon area which left a civilian dead and a military officer
severely injured. Security forces arrested eight men, including six Laskar Jihad
members, in the incidentover possession of arms and bombs.
Angry masses burned the house of Thamrin Ely, who represented Muslims in the
Malino peace talks, and a speedboat belonging to the provincial administration after
police refused to release the detainees.
"We truly regret the burning of Thamrin Ely's officialresidence, and the Mutiara
speedboat, which is normally used to fetch VIP guests," spokesman for the Maluku
administration, Izack Saimima, said on Monday. (49/tas)
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