The Jakarta Post, May 15, 2004
Separatism in Ambon, homework for government
M. Azis Tunny, Ambon, Maluku
The presence of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) in Maluku has been a source of
controversy since it was established on June 15 four years ago by Dr. Alex
Manuputty.
The organization, which aspires for an independent Maluku Island or the South
Maluku Republic, was set up only one year after bloody sectarian conflict broke out in
Ambon. It was founded against a background of the central government's failure to
overcome the bloody sectarian conflict that rocked the Maluku island, killing
thousands of people and forcing hundreds of thousand to flee the island.
The organization, of which most of the members are Christians, has been small since
its establishment, with only hundreds of members. There have also been Muslim
members in the organization. Despite its small size, the presence of the FKM has
been a pebble in the shoe for the government in bringing peace in Maluku.
Executive director of the Maluku Interfaith for Humanity Institute Reverend Jacky
Manuputty claimed that the issue of separatism could still trigger further conflict, as
other issues such as religious conflict in the Maluku islands had largely come to an
end. Religious conflict in Maluku subsided after the signing of the Malino Peace
Accord two years ago, and in September last year, the civil emergency status was
even lifted.
Sadly, Ambon was again rocked by violence in April.
"The latest conflict in April was shocking, but thank God, people are no longer easily
provoked. It was not sparked by religious issues. The issue that may still spark
conflict in Maluku is separatism," he told The Jakarta Post at the Maluku Protestant
Church (GPM) Crisis Center secretariat on Tuesday.
He was referring to the latest melee in Maluku in which 39 people were killed and
hundreds of others seriously wounded. The two weeks of conflict began on April 25,
sparked by the celebration of the 54th anniversary of the South Maluku Republic by
the FKM.
The separatist celebration sparked anger among certain Muslims, who then went on a
rampage.
Despite the rampage, Muslims and Christians were largely unprovoked. Religious
conflicts did not break out on the island, as it could be noticed that many of fatalities
in the melee were the killed by snipers. There were also no reports of widespread
fighting between Muslims and Christians. The situation was totally different from the
one in 1999, when Muslims and Christians attacked and killed one another.
The shift in the issues behind the fresh outbreak of violence raised questions about
the root cause of the conflict. Most blamed the FKM and the inability of security
personnel to prevent the conflict from escalating in Ambon, while others even
questioned whether the conflicts were intentionally orchestrated by security
personnel.
Many, mostly Muslims, questioned why the FKM was not disbanded, creating an
impression that it received preferential treatment as opposed to the rebels of the Free
Aceh Movement in Aceh or the Free Papua Movement in Papua.
"Is it purely a case of separatism in Maluku per se or is it conceptualized to avenge
and prolong the conflict? People also questioned why Alex Manuputty, who was
sentenced to prison, was able to flee to the U.S. after the sentence was imposed, and
there was no official explanation from the government," said Jacky, the Christian
delegation signatory to the Malino accord.
He said that since the conflict broke out in 1999, the issue of separatism as the sole
cause of the conflict had been propounded by several government officials and
politicians.
The conflict continued and Maluku Christians were stigmatized by an emerging
perception that being a Maluku Christian was the same as being a member of the
RMS as nearly all of its leaders and members in Maluku are Christians.
"Not all Christians are separatists. We felt cornered as RMS was twisted into
meaning "Republik Maluku Sarani" (South Maluku Christians). There was conflict
within the minds of Christians who tried to resist being provoked by the stigma,
because as a consequence we would be confronted by our Muslim brothers and the
Indonesian Military or police personnel," he said.
Similarly, the executive director of the Ambon Case Settlement advocating team,
Zairin Salampessy, a Muslim, blamed the conflict in Ambon on April 25 on the actions
of security personnel. According to him, the conflict was intentionally allowed to
develop.
"It was clear demonstrated on the eve of the ceremony. Even until the flag was
hoisted, security forces were nowhere to be seen near the location. Only after the flag
was hoisted, followed by the singing of the RMS anthem and speech by FKM
secretary-general Moses Tuwanakotta, security personnel showed up at the location,"
he said.
The riot which was sparked by the FKM/RMS parade, according to Zairin, was not the
main trigger of the conflict. According to him, the police's inability to anticipate the
flag-hoisting ceremony, even the impression created by the police escorting the
parade to the police headquarters, was deemed as the cause.
"Moreover, upon reaching the police headquarters, only 24 people who claimed to be
FKM/RMS members were detained, while a large part of the crowd was released and
walked home in groups. On their way home, they were confronted by groups claiming
to be Indonesian supporters, who later swelled into a mass concentration of people
and they attacked one another," he explained.
He suggested that during the post-conflict lull, the government should immediately
facilitate dialog between religious and community leaders.
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