The Jakarta Post, May 07, 2004
National peacekeeping force needed to prevent new clashes in
Ambon
Yayan GH Mulyana, Bogor, West Java
The recent recurrence of bloody Muslim-Christian battles in Ambon indicates that the
Malino peace pact, which brought almost all the parties concerned together to agree
to truce three years ago, requires additional measures to ensure a durable peace in
the region.
Those measures should include the deployment of a "national peacekeeping mission"
-- comprised of soldiers from each of thee divisions of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and
civilian police -- shortly after a reenewed peace commitment is achieved. This
deployment of troops should coincide with post-conflict reconstruction missions and
measures to address the root causes of the conflict.
Deployment of a sizable TNI and state police contingent is essential for a certain
period sufficient to ensure that peace is adhered to in line with the Malino pact.
Security matters after an inter-communal conflict of high magnitude -- such as the one
in Ambon -- cannot just be taken for granted. It requires an assurance, and the
presence of a national peaccekeeping force in the region would assure that all parties
concerned held to the truce commitment and were willing to restrain themselves from
resorting to use of force when differences or minor skirmishes recur.
A key mandate in the peacekeeping operation would also be disarming civilians
involved in the conflicts. Guns and other light weapons of war have contributed to the
large number of casualties in the Ambon conflict. As weapons have been smuggled
through Ambon's sea routes, professional navy patrols in the surrounding coastal
areas should also be installed to support the disarmament process.
After calm is restored, the post-conflict reconstruction mission should begin. This
mission would consolidate peace, facilitate all parties concerned in meeting their
commitment to peace, and prevent the recurrence of conflict. It should be built upon
four pillars: Nation-building, economic reconstruction, institution building and public
administration.
The nation-building pillar is imperative as the recent conflict in Ambon was sparked by
a group of secessionists. Unlike previous conflicts, the current conflicts in Ambon
feature religious-secessionism issues. Most of those involved in the call for the
restoration of the Republic of South Maluku (RMS) are said to be Moluccan
Christians.
It is, however, important to note that the majority of Christian Moluccans generally
oppose the secessionist movement. Both Christian and Muslim Moluccans resolutely
hope for a lasting peace, and Ambon, under the framework of the unitary state of the
Republic of Indonesia, in which Muslims and Christians can live in harmony and
serenity, and in which they have a better chance to build a more prosperous and
livable Moluccas as the regional Autonomy Law is implemented properly.
Nation-building projects may include the development of inter-religious dialog forums
involving youths and traditional leaders as well as physical projects involving Muslims
and Christian Ambonese, such as joint night patrols and joint operations of crisis
centers.
Engaging women in such projects is recommended. They can complement the
existing efforts with their own ways and sensitivity. The reviving of indigenous
modalities for conflict resolutions such as the pela gandong is also an important
project in nation-building.
Other important elements of the project are the development of a culture of prevention
and the internalization of culture of peace, through, among other things, local folklore
and narratives that depict vintage years when Muslim-Christian harmony was
widespread.
The Ambon conflict has resulted in the destruction of economic infrastructure and
economic activities have ground to a halt. Economic recovery may include physical
reconstruction of economic centers, including public markets and the creation of an
environment in which Muslim and Christian economic players feel secure and
confident in doing business. The reconstruction should also include the repair of all
utilities, including electricity and safe drinking water.
Another essential element of the economic recovery program is job creation. This can
be pursued by the development of small and medium scale enterprises, including
home industries and cooperatives, the development of local markets and the
promotion of training, especially for the many wayward youths.
When civilians previously involved in the conflict are suitably equipped to enter the job
market, they will be allowed to reintegrated into their communities. Having permanent
jobs also has a preventive component. Youths with stable jobs will think twice about
participating in another destructive conflict that will ruin the economy and result in the
loss of their jobs.
The economic recovery program should also ensure that public services function,
including banks, information sources (print and electronic media) and transportation
services. Domestic investment should also be encouraged. Intercity and interprovincial
commercial relationships should also be developed. Dependable service delivery is
essential to those efforts.
The institutional building pillar focuses on the rebuilding and reopening of public
facilities, especially mosques and churches, as well as residential buildings. The
establishment of mixed teams involving both Muslims and Christians in those
institutional building projects is important. This pillar may also include the
reconstruction of villages and the reinstatement of ownership upon property left by
their holders who were internally displaced. This project is vital to the reintegration of
many internally displaced Ambonese to their communities.
This pillar may also include the promotion of human rights education and human right
advocacy groups. A person's human dignity tends to be violated in conflict situations.
Women and children usually experience the severest violations. Human rights
education for all people and local government apparatus can have a deterrence effect,
preventing civilian combatants from ravaging the basic rights and freedom of men and
women, adults and children in a conflict zone.
The public administration pillar would ensure that the local government is up and
running and able to serve the needs of the people. During the conflict public services
have come to a standstill. Public servants need to get back to work so they can help
respond to the public's needs for immediate services, from the issuance of identity
papers (KTP) and certificates of property ownership to the provision of clean water,
phone and electrical lines and postal services.
International assistance to help build a durable peace in Ambon could also be
welcomed, but this should be under the direction and coordination of the Indonesian
government. International aid agencies should have local sensitivity in order to gain
trust and confidence of local people, both Muslims and Christians. Once they are
accepted by all parties, this can work quietly and contribute to the reconstruction
efforts significantly.
The national peacekeeping operation should continue its presence as the security
element of the post-conflict reconstruction mission in Ambon. The reduction and
withdrawal of the security forces will depend on the progress achieved in the peace
consolidation efforts in the region. It is also imperative for the President to appoint a
Special Representative for Mollucas Affairs mandated to direct and supervise the
implementation of the peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction mission in
Ambon. The special representative should work in the field, not in Jakarta, and report
regularly to the President in a professional, responsible and impartial manner.
* The writer is a Fulbright Programme Alumnus.
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