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The authorities are unwilling to
crack down on the Laskar Jihad because of its perceived military
and political support
By
Marianne
Kearney
STRAITS TIMES INDONESIA BUREAU
JAKARTA - Backing for Laskar Jihad
from rogue members of the military and the apparent support of
powerful politicians and Muslim parties have made the paramilitary
group virtually untouchable.
On Sunday, about a dozen masked men
armed with guns, grenades and daggers attacked the Christian
villages of Soiya and Ahoru, just outside Ambon, capital of Maluku.
They torched about 30 homes and a
church, killing at least 14 people.
Christian groups accused Laskar
Jihad of carrying out the attack.
They have called for a crackdown on
the group, blamed for fuelling the three-year-long conflict
between Christians and Muslims in Maluku.
However, none of the authorities
have indicated they will expel or disarm the group, whose presence
contravenes the recent peace agreement.
One security analyst said military
leaders and the Maluku government were afraid of cracking down
because of a perception that its leader Jafar Umar Thalib has
widespread support.
A diplomat remarked: 'When you have
Jafar Thalib photographed with Hamzah Haz, it convinces a lot of
people that he supports him.'
He was referring to meetings that
the militia commander had with Mr Hamzah immediately after the
latter was sworn in as Vice-President and again when Laskar Jihad
members were arrested for abducting a politician.
Other Muslim political leaders were
probably giving the group tacit support to keep Islamic parties on
their side and to put political pressure on President Megawati
Sukarnoputri, some analysts said.
They pointed out that a failure of
the Malino peace agreement between Christians and Muslims would
damage her credibility and that of her Cabinet, particularly Chief
Security Minister Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono.
Under the Malino peace accord, the
authorities agreed to rid Maluku of outside groups which were
inciting sectarian violence.
The Java-based Laskar Jihad, which
set off publicly in 2000 to wage a holy war in Maluku after
receiving military training, fits the description, say Christian
leaders.
'We need a crackdown on Laskar
Jihad,' said Pastor Cornelius Bohm of the Christian Crisis Centre.
On Friday, he had predicted that a
fiery speech from Jafar calling for a war on Christians would fuel
more violence.
Indonesian papers initially blamed
the military for the raid as the attackers wore black face masks
and military uniforms and were equipped with military-issued M-16
rifles and bayonets.
But foreign observers disagreed,
pointing out that obtaining military-issued weapons in Maluku was
not difficult and that the attack could have been carried out by
individuals disguised in military uniforms.
'Laskar Jihad could have been
totally involved as it would suit their purposes,' said one
foreign observer.
National police chief Da'i Bachtiar
said yesterday that investigations would be carried out into
whether Laskar Jihad was responsible.
The military, reeling from the
reports suggesting its involvement, has called for martial law in
Maluku.
Army chief Endriartono Sutarto said
only that would give the military the power to restore security.
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