Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Maluku provincial councillors urged on Thursday the
government-sanctioned team probing violations of the law in the
troubled province to investigate the alleged involvement of
security personnel in the prolonged sectarian conflict.
During a meeting with the visiting investigation team, the
councillors also demanded a thorough investigation of all military
and police commanders who were in office during the clashes over
the past three years. They include former Pattimura military
commanders and former provincial police chiefs.
Maluku saw three military commanders and five police chiefs
during the cycle of bloodshed between Christians and Muslims who
had once been friends and neighbors. More than 6,000 were killed
before peace came earlier this year.
Bito Temmar of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) faction said he doubted the independency of the team,
since it had to report the investigation results to the government
whereas "it is assigned to probe alleged involvement of
security personnel who actually are part of the government".
"I think the team has acknowledged that the conflict
involved a separatist movement. But I wonder why this kind of
rebellion followed the sectarian conflict?" Bito asked,
referring to the South Maluku Republic (RMS) group and its
military wing Maluku Liberation Front (FKM).
Other legislators present included: Lutfy Sanaky and Fatimah
Kilwouw of the United Development Party (PPP) faction; Abdul Gani
Salampessy of the Upholder faction; Chris Sahetapy, Nico
Putilehalat, Monica Balubun, and Max Maswekan of the PDI
Perjuangan faction and Max Pentury and Hendrik Seriholo of the
Builder faction.
During the conflict in Ambon, the capital of Maluku, Jakarta
sent about 9,800 military troops there, not to mention hundreds of
police personnel.
Nevertheless, the large number of security troops failed to
restore security and order in the region, partly because they
fueled the conflict by siding with a certain group.
The arrival of Laskar Jihad's hardline Muslim volunteers
complicated peace efforts. Later on, the government said that
separatist groups RMS/FKM had taken advantage of the chaos.
In response to the demand, investigation team leader I Wayan
Karya said the team was established simply to find the facts.
"Therefore it has no authority to conduct investigations
into alleged involvement of the security personnel," he said.
But he admitted he understood that the legislators raised their
demand following accusations by many that the military had a
vested interest to keep Ambon in a state of civil war.