Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and Oktovianus Pinontoan, The
Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Newly appointed Chief of the Security Restoration Operations
Command in Maluku Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso vowed on Thursday that
last month's Kudamati incident would be the last conflict between
military and police deployed in the troubled region.
"I'm determined to make it (the incident) the last
conflict. Therefore, I expect all parties to understand each
other's role (in the Maluku civil emergency administration),"
Djoko said, as quoted by Antara before attending the
ceremony for the handover of the post of Army chief of staff from
Gen. Endriartono Sutarto to Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu.
The incident in Kudamati, Ambon, centered around the tug-of-war
between Army's Special Force (Kopassus) soldiers and policemen in
the investigation of provocateurs suspected of triggering violent
attacks in the conflict-ridden province.
The rivalry then led to shootings on May 13 and May 14 that
injured soldiers and policemen.
Many have stated that the incident was proof of the lack of
coordination within the emergency administration, in which the
security institutions had failed to defer to the civilian
authorities.
To strengthen coordination, Djoko, who also heads the Pattimura
Regional Military Command, said he held a regular coordination
meeting with Governor Saleh Latuconsina and Maluku Police chief
Brig. Gen. Soenarko to discuss measures to be taken to restore
security and order in the province.
Separately in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, National Police
chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said a clear job description was
necessary for the military and police in performing their
respective tasks in the province.
Da'i also said that the prosecution of Laskar Jihad commander
Ja'far Umar Thalib, who is suspected of provoking a clash in
Maluku in April, was now in the hands of state prosecutors.
Meanwhile, similar provocation allegations against former
Udayana Military commander and senior executive of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Theo Syafei are
still being investigated, he said.
Also, Governor Latuconsina expressed hope that the upcoming
visit of Vice President Hamzah Haz on June 11 would help expedite
the process to resolve the conflict in Maluku.
The provocation complaints against Theo were reported by Laskar
Jihad to the National Police last month, with Theo being accused
of having delivered provocative speeches in Maluku.