Embracing the Future of Indonesia

By Barrie | August 9th, 2007 | No Comments

Before 2006, violent conflicts in Indonesia tended to be massive. However, in 2006 they transformed into smaller scale with limited area, specific actors and more actual issues. Recent examples of smaller scale violence are property damage, aggravated assault, murder and aggression involving individuals, groups or organizations, either civilians or state apparatus.

According to Institut Titian Perdamaian (ITP) research, 240 violent conflicts occurred from January to November 2006 in Indonesia. Hence, a violent conflict occurred every 36 hours in Indonesia.

These days potential sources of small-scale communal violent conflict include political crises, especially mass mobilizations for provincial or regency elections. Other potential sources of conflict are natural resources and territorial or land crises. Nevertheless, the most frightening conflicts are religious or ethnic-based.

Indeed, violence has occurred in 90 regencies/cities in 26 provinces in Indonesia.

Regarding the intensity of these conflicts, five provinces are classified as very high, where communal violence occurred more than 15 times in 2006. These are Jakarta, West Java, East Java, Papua,and Central Sulawesi.

Potential areas for large-scale violent conflict in Indonesia
Papua has three main problems that have the potential to erupt into large-scale violent conflict.

The first involves the interpretation of Papua history. For the government of Indonesia, after the New York Agreement in 1962, and after an international understanding through a referendum in 1969, Papua’s integration into Indonesia is final.

For Papuans, the integration has two core problems: lack of local participation, and it was marred by conspiracy, intimidation and other political violence. Other sources of conflict in Papua are their aspirations for independence, and human rights violations in the area.

However, Papuans also have the potential to build peace. In 2000, they declared — through religious, traditional and social institutions — Papua as a Land of Peace.

After the Malino agreement in 2002, violence between Muslim and Christian communities abated. However, violence in Central Sulawesi still exists.

There are three main problems in Poso.

The first is the corruption of post-conflict refugee and development aid due to the central government’s failure to cooperate with the local government.

The second is the growth of religious radicalism of youth communities in Poso.

The third is post-conflict religious development aid from the central government that has exaggerated religion exploitation and marginalized local religious networks.

Nevertheless, peace-building initiatives in Poso and Central Sulawesi rose during the peak of the conflict in the middle of 2000. Several local and national NGOs, religious institutions, universities and the central government finalized these initiatives through the Malino declaration.

Meanwhile, in Aceh, after the tsunami in 2004, Aceh faced its great transformation era and entered its peace-building stage, consisting of reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

During this stage, Aceh has had to re-develop its structures and infrastructure. At the same time, Aceh entered its conflict prevention stage, which consists of several efforts to prevent another conflict. To clear up all of the violent tribulations, the government is preparing a truth and reconciliation commission.

Nowadays, Aceh has successfully elected a new governor who was promoted as an independent candidate. This successful election has established Aceh as a fair and democratic province.

However, during its peace-building period, Aceh still has to struggle with reintegration problems at the community level, interaction problems with outsiders and sharia enforcement that is more likely to be just a political agreement.

After the Malino agreement in 2002 and local initiatives from Baku Bae Movement Maluku and Pattimura University in January 2003, Maluku generally saw an end to any violence involving mass mobilization.

However, several time bombs are waiting to explode, such as the South Maluku Republic (RMS).

Another time bomb in Maluku is its well-isolated economic development. Maluku has nothing but its deep sea, which needs a great vision, strong commitment and lots of capital to develop.

For such a big dream, Maluku has stepped forward by forming Majelis Latupati Maluku (Maluku’s Kings Assembly). This association of kings will support peaceful development in Maluku through its own natural and human resources.

Until we have a comprehensive state regulation on conflict settlement, we will handle violent conflict not only in a partial and reactive manner, but also in a political, exclusive and conservative way. In many areas the government prefers to settle violent conflicts with a military solution. This kind of settlement promises nothing but sorrow.

In order to embrace a brighter and more peaceful future for Indonesia, we must share a mutual awareness of peace itself. The upcoming International Day of Peace is a chance to fulfill our peaceful dream. Several institutions have committed to commemorate the International Day of Peace in Indonesia this Sept. 21.

We have committed to share our dreams of peace and build a brighter future for Indonesia together.

The writer (Ichsan Malik)is director of Institut Titian Perdamaian, Jakarta.