THE STRAITS TIMES, Tuesday. April 30, 2002
DEADLY ATTACK ON CHRISTIANS
Muslim militia in Maluku untouchable
The authorities are unwilling to crack down on the Laskar Jihad because of its
perceived military and political support
By Marianne Kearney
STRAITS TIMES INDONESIA BUREAU
JAKARTA - Backing for Laskar Jihad from rogue members of the military and the
apparent support of powerful politicians and Muslim parties have made the
paramilitary group virtually untouchable.
On Sunday, about a dozen masked men armed with guns, grenades and daggers
attacked the Christian villages of Soiya and Ahoru, just outside Ambon, capital of
Maluku.
They torched about 30 homes and a church, killing at least 14 people.
Christian groups accused Laskar Jihad of carrying out the attack.
They have called for a crackdown on the group, blamed for fuelling the three-year-long
conflict between Christians and Muslims in Maluku.
However, none of the authorities have indicated they will expel or disarm the group,
whose presence contravenes the recent peace agreement.
One security analyst said military leaders and the Maluku government were afraid of
cracking down because of a perception that its leader Jafar Umar Thalib has
widespread support.
A diplomat remarked: 'When you have Jafar Thalib photographed with Hamzah Haz, it
convinces a lot of people that he supports him.'
He was referring to meetings that the militia commander had with Mr Hamzah
immediately after the latter was sworn in as Vice-President and again when Laskar
Jihad members were arrested for abducting a politician.
Other Muslim political leaders were probably giving the group tacit support to keep
Islamic parties on their side and to put political pressure on President Megawati
Sukarnoputri, some analysts said.
They pointed out that a failure of the Malino peace agreement between Christians and
Muslims would damage her credibility and that of her Cabinet, particularly Chief
Security Minister Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono.
Under the Malino peace accord, the authorities agreed to rid Maluku of outside groups
which were inciting sectarian violence.
The Java-based Laskar Jihad, which set off publicly in 2000 to wage a holy war in
Maluku after receiving military training, fits the description, say Christian leaders.
'We need a crackdown on Laskar Jihad,' said Pastor Cornelius Bohm of the Christian
Crisis Centre.
On Friday, he had predicted that a fiery speech from Jafar calling for a war on
Christians would fuel more violence.
Indonesian papers initially blamed the military for the raid as the attackers wore black
face masks and military uniforms and were equipped with military-issued M-16 rifles
and bayonets.
But foreign observers disagreed, pointing out that obtaining military-issued weapons in
Maluku was not difficult and that the attack could have been carried out by individuals
disguised in military uniforms.
'Laskar Jihad could have been totally involved as it would suit their purposes,' said one
foreign observer.
National police chief Da'i Bachtiar said yesterday that investigations would be carried
out into whether Laskar Jihad was responsible.
The military, reeling from the reports suggesting its involvement, has called for martial
law in Maluku.
Army chief Endriartono Sutarto said only that would give the military the power to
restore security.
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