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Genocide incompatible with religion and faith
Jakarta Post
 
The clashes in Maluku which have taken hundreds, maybe thousands, of lives
continue unabated. The following article is based on an interview with the
Catholic bishop of Maluku, Monsignor Petrus Canisius Mandagi.
 
How do you explain the year-long clashes between Muslims and Christians in
the Maluku islands?
 
The conflict must be placed in a wider context. We cannot view it in a
regional context only but in a national or even international context. What
President Abdurrahman Wahid said about it being the Maluku people themselves
who have to bring about peace is true on one hand, but it is not 100 percent
correct.
 
The root of the conflict is a power struggle. There is a political undertone
present. Those fighting for power are not in only Ambon. There are those
living outside Ambon. Ambon is merely a means to attain their goals. It is
similar to play on a soccer field.
 
Who is involved in the struggle for power?
 
There are three groups at play. The status quo group, that is Soeharto and
his cronies, is one. They want to recapture their power. Or members of this
group who feel they have been humiliated. They think they have been made
into scapegoats. They are being prosecuted, chased and dragged to court.
They are fighting back by creating conflict everywhere while diverting
public attention away from themselves and to the unrest. It is also an
opportunity to topple the new regime.
 
The second group is the hard-line Muslims. They look at this transitional
period as an opportunity to seize power from the nationalists, which include
Christians whom they believe have been the real power holders so far. They
have mobilized people not only in Ambon but also outside Ambon.
 
They sent jihad troops to Ambon to dominate or to expand their sphere of
influence. I do not know where the people came from, but some outside troops
allegedly attacked and occupied certain areas and exterminated locals.
Ternate is one example. We are finished there. Churches, schools and
convents were torched. Christians were evicted.
 
Likewise on Buru island, both in the north and in the west. An exception is
the island's main town of Namlea where Catholics are protected by Muslims.
Houses owned by Catholics are not burned down. Muslim youths stand guard at
churches and parish houses. Catholics are protected. But it is over for
Protestants there. There was revenge on the part of Protestants. I strongly
deplore this. Many Muslims were killed.
 
The third group comprises military people. The military, especially the
Army, is under fire because of alleged past abuses. It has been discredited.
Of course it wants to regain power. Certain members create conflict so that
the people will look to them to overcome it. I regret this. It is not the
way to do it. The military should act in a professional way. It should love
and protect the people. It should not use violence. Perhaps, living under
repression and violence for 32 years has taught us to use violence to
achieve our goals. Whereas we should seize power by way of dialog,
democratic elections. Many still see power as an instrument to maintain
egocentrism, positions.
 
President Wahid's proposed solution is to leave the matter to the Maluku
people themselves. Which groups can still be brought together?
 
The unrest in Maluku has degenerated into genocide, involving both
Protestants and Muslims. I think the first step is to put an end to this
violence, this genocide. There is no other alternative but to turn to the
military. We need the military, either Indonesian or foreign troops. But we
must still try to do it with the military from home.
 
Is the military still there and is it up to the task?
 
It is still there. I told my fellow priests that while we may not agree with
certain military officers we should not be against the military as an
institution, it is the military that can provide security after all. The
important thing is dialog, not confrontation. We should discuss the good
things and the bad in the context of a dialog, but not to discredit anyone.
I think that is acceptable.
 
What should the military do at this point in time?
 
I think it has to take certain measures, like mount a raid against sharp
weapons. This should be carried out in a disciplined way, not in an
overbearing way like hitting or stripping people. It should be done strictly
and according to the law. This should also apply to the confiscation of
ammunition. Another important thing is the prevention of arms smuggling and
the manufacturing of assembled arms or Molotov cocktails.
 
Next, justice should be upheld. A court should try those who committed mass
killing, Christian and Muslim perpetrators notwithstanding as well as
civilians or military members.
 
Then comes the endeavor for reconciliation. In my opinion, reconciliation
attempts solely by the people of Maluku themselves will not work because
grudges run too deep. There is a need for outside intervention, from within
the country or a foreign independent party.
 
In the reconciliation process there must include open and frank discussions
with an outpouring of feelings. There may be cultural barriers, economic or
religious injustices, or perhaps weak local leadership.
 
What kind of military leadership do you think would work in the current
situation?
 
To stop the violence, there is certainly a need for professional military
leaders. The leaders there now are in a difficult position. In my opinion a
total change is necessary. It is not because we dislike the present leaders.
But they may be too tired, too exhausted.
 
What is needed is a new leader with a clear vision and mind. It may be that
the existing leaders are so used to riots that they no longer have a sense
of crisis. Therefore I think it is necessary to replace the governor, the
military regional commander, the regional chief of police, the military
district commander, the military resort commander, the regents.
 
The regional government now is helpless, paralyzed. I think a transitional
government is needed there. It should be directly under the control of the
central government, answerable to the President.
 
Do you feel that there are clean military people who can overcome the
conflicts?
 
There are still some of them. We must support them. They are only human
beings, like us. They get tired and need support. Therefore we should
continue to strive to relate with them.
 
What is the role of religious figures, moral leaders like yourself?
 
We are helpless because anarchy has set in. We are only moral figures.
People do not listen to us. Especially if a conflict is orchestrated. We are
just pushed aside. People in the Catholic congregation, however, usually
still listen to the voice of their priests and bishops.
 
Why were you accompanied by the Vatican ambassador when you paid a call on
the President on Jan. 5?
 
For me the Maluku conflict is a humanitarian problem, a problem of genocide.
It is not a national or international matter. It is a human problem. The
Vatican is known in the world as a fighter for humankind. I think the visit
of the Vatican ambassador was intended to inform people about the concern of
the Vatican about the killings. The presence of the Vatican ambassador was
for me a symbol of the church's struggle for humankind.
 
It was not because I wanted to involve another country. Or to denigrate
Indonesia. No. I wanted to emphasize the struggle of humankind.
 
To your knowledge, how many people have died?
 
Thousands already. In the whole of Maluku, it is in the thousands. I think
more than 3,000 or 4,000. In North Maluku alone the total has exceeded 2,000
in the past few days. It is more serious in Central and Southeast Maluku. It
causes us concern. It is a crisis of humankind. (F. Sihol Siagian)

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