The Jakarta Post, June 04, 2004
Editorial
What's up in Ambone
The recent spate of bombings and reports this week of new arms caches found in
Ambon indicate how fragile is the peace that was achieved with so much effort in
Maluku.
But despite the recent tension, it's fair to say that important progress has been made
in the province since a trivial argument between a minibus driver and a local tough in
January 1999 sparked three years of communal strife and claimed the lives of nearly
10,000 people. Indeed, if the public's relatively composed reaction in Ambon to these
latest incidents is taken as a measure of their maturity when facing the threat of
renewed violence, then fears of a conflagration on the scale of the 1999 conflict seem
unwarranted. This is, of course, provided all parties with an interest in seeing the strife
prolonged refrain -- or are prevented -- from disrupting the peace efforts.
The renewed tension in Ambon was triggered by an incident in April, when fighting
broke out after the anniversary celebration of a group of separatists calling itself the
Republic of South Maluku (RMS). According to reports, members of the group had
already disbanded and were on their way home when they were attacked by
nationalist supporters of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
Again, it must be noted that the group currently calling itself the RMS in Ambon
represents a mere few hundred people in Maluku -- a far cry from the thousands of
armed and fanatical followers in the original RMS separatist movement of the early
1950s. Most of the original RMS leaders are aging and live in voluntary exile in the
Netherlands. To many observers, therefore, the authorities' focus on such an
ostensibly insignificant group seems irrationally overblown.
Nevertheless, the bombings and the ongoing discovery of arms in the province is a
strong reminder to both the authorities and the people of Maluku that enduring peace
cannot be taken for granted. The latest incidents make it all too clear elements with
an interest in seeing the peace disrupted are still at work for either financial or political
gain. After all, without necessarily returning to the 1999-2000 emergency situation, a
prolonged crisis situation in Ambon and Maluku could benefit certain parties. To
paraphrase a report from the now-outlawed International Crisis Group (ICG):
Occasional bombs and shootings are sufficient to persuade business people and
property owners to pay for special protection.
Obviously, one party that stands nothing to gain from a perpetual crisis is the general
community, including civil servants, business people and property owners. Under
present circumstances, the first thing that must be done is to prevent outsiders from
moving in to exploit the situation. The good work that has been done in recent years
by members of the civil community in Maluku, such as the Bakubae movement, must
also be maintained and encouraged.
In the years following the January 1999 incident, Indonesians and the world saw what
responsible civil leaders with wisdom and understanding of local conditions could
achieve to resolve even the most stubborn and complicated of conflicts. Without the
selfless involvement of Maluku's religious and community leaders it is doubtful
whether even the current level of unease and sporadic violence could have been
achieved.
During these days of campaigning for the July 5 presidential elections, Indonesians
have heard much talk about new governments helping the people. Ambon has shown
what an effective civil community can accomplish to resolve its problems, provided
those who are in power cooperate and do not stand in its way.
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