The Jakarta Post, 11 March 2002
Peace elusive in Maluku despite accord
Octavianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Peace remains elusive in Maluku province as a number of militant groups continue to
oppose the Malino peace accord, which was mediated by the government last month
to end the three-year-old sectarian conflict.
Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina told the media over the weekend that although
most of the feuding parties had accepted the 11-point agreement, a small number of
groups still opposed it and had launched a campaign to persuade other people to
reject it.
"As a matter of fact, there are still people who do not approve of the agreement. I hope
that people here do not rest on their laurels," he said.
Overall, however, the situation in the province has been gradually improving since the
Malino agreement, which was reached last month between 35 Muslim delegates and
35 Christian delegates in Malino, 70 kilometers from Makassar, the capital of South
Sulawesi province.
Maluku Military Commander, Mustopo said that 80 percent of the people of Maluku
had accepted the Malino peace pact and only 20 percent oppose it. "That's our
conclusion based on our field research," he said, without identifying the opponents.
Since the peace accord was signed on Feb. 12, several hardline groups have voiced
their refusal through, among other things, demonstrations in the provincial capital.
They include the Maluku Front of Muslim Defenders under Husni Putuhena, the
Special Task Force of Amar Maruf Nahi Munkar under Muhamad Attamimi, Brig. Gen.
(ret.) Rustam Kastor, Ustad Bahasoan and Laskar Jihad Ahlussunah Wal Jamaah.
An interview broadcast last week on Suara Perjuangan Moslem Maluku Radio (Voice
of Maluku Muslim Movement Radio) -- which is run by hardliners Laskar Jihad --
quoted Husni Putuhena and Rustam Kastor as saying they entirely opposed the
11-point Malino peace pact.
There are also opponents of the peace pact on the Christian side, but they have only
refused some points of the peace agreement, not all.
They are the Maluku Sovereign Front (FKM) under the leadership of Alex Manuputty
and the South Maluku Republic (RMS). They oppose point six of the peace pact,
which refers to them as Laskar Kristus (Christian Soldiers) and the Christian RMS,
and point three, which refer to RMS as a separatist movement.
Maluku Police Chief, Brig. Gen. Sunarko said that the police were still investigating
who were behind the recent violent rallies. He refused to confirm reports that the
police had not made any arrests even though they knew the identities of the
organizers.
"We cannot arrest people without strong evidence," he said.
Daud Sangadji, a member of the Muslim delegation at the Malino meeting, refused to
comment.
Emang Nikijuluw, a member of the Christian delegation at the meeting, said that after
the meeting it was up the government to enforce the peace pact.
The police have given both the conflicting parties three months to disseminate the 11
points of the peace pact, which requires, among other things, both rivals to disarm
themselves and militiamen, including members of Laskar Jihad and RMS, to leave the
province.
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