JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of the National Moral Movement
cross-religious group urged the government on Monday to launch an
investigation into the years of bloodshed in Maluku as they
believe the presence of Laskar Jihad and the Maluku
SovereigntyForum (FKM) is the mere tip of a bigger problem.
According to the Movement, both the native Muslim and Christian
groups in Maluku are longing for peace and willing to comply with
the Malino II peace agreement, yet elements from outside the area
have triggered new conflicts with a further lossof life.
"A thorough investigation is needed to find out
themastermind (of the conflict). Both the Laskar Jihad and FKM is
not necessarily the root-cause," Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of
Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Muslim organization, told
reporters after meeting Vice President Hamzah Haz at the
latter'soffice.
As the people in Maluku lost trust in each other, they became
prone to provocation and resorted to retaliation after an
incident, which was usually not investigated thoroughly by the
security apparatus, Hasyim said.
"There is always a possibility that a conflict is properly
planned ... it's the government's responsibility to
investigatethis," he said, adding that if the government
failed to bringpeace to Ambon, it signified the government's
failure to protect its people.
Peace has yet to be permanently restored in Maluku despite the
peace agreement signed on Feb. 12 in the South Sulawesi town of
Malino. The worst violence broke out late in April when a group of
armed people killed 12 people in Soya village, near the provincial
capital of Ambon.
Ismartono, who represented the Indonesian Council of Bishops (KWI)
at the meeting, said people in Ambon told the visiting members of
the movement that perpetrators of the Soya violence were
outsiders.
"They said, the (perpetrators) didn't use the local
language, and that no Ambonese would have the capability of
destroying a village in such a short time," Ismartono told
reporters.
According to the assessment of the Movement, the Malino II
peace deal was aimed at resolving the sectarian conflict but it
did not address the conflict between people and the state.
Earlier, during the opening ceremony of the Laskar Jihad Ahlus
Sunnah Wal Jamaah congress, Hamzah supported the group's demand
for stiff measures against FKM as a condition for the former's
withdrawal from Maluku.
He said Laskar Jihad could be pulled out if the government
could guarantee the safety of Muslims in Maluku.
"Of course action must be taken against FKM first and
after the Muslims are no longer threatened, the Laskar Jihad must
also obey (orders to leave the area)," Hamzah said.
Hamzah has drawn controversy for visiting Laskar Jihad leader
Ja'far Umar Thalib, who was arrested for allegedly provoking
violence in Ambon. The government has insisted on phasing out of
Laskar Jihad from Maluku and taking actions against FKM in a bidto
restore peace in the province.
Ambon remained tense on Monday following Sunday's bombing in
the Diponegoro-Mangga Dua Ambon area which left a civilian dead
and a military officer severely injured. Security forces arrested
eight men, including six Laskar Jihad members, in the incidentover
possession of arms and bombs.
Angry masses burned the house of Thamrin Ely, who represented
Muslims in the Malino peace talks, and a speedboat belonging to
the provincial administration after police refused to release the
detainees.
"We truly regret the burning of Thamrin Ely's
officialresidence, and the Mutiara speedboat, which is normally
used to fetch VIP guests," spokesman for the Maluku
administration, Izack Saimima, said on Monday. (49/tas)