Author:
Publication: The Statesman
Date: July 6, 2000
Religion unites as much
as it divides people. It is also a dangerous political instrument, pitting
followers of one faith against those of another, with both sides willing
to die to defend what they believe to be the only truth. This is what's
happening in Indonesia, writes LELA E MADJIAH
INDONESIA has barely
recovered from losing East Timor to independence when a similar call for
freedom from the republic is now being made by the people of Irian Jaya
(West Papua). In Aceh, the killings continue despite a recent truce signed
between the government and armed separatist leaders. On a quieter tone,
students and activists press on with their demand for a referendum.
Weeks of violence that
began in late May have left at least 126 people dead in Poso, central Sulawesi.
In Maluku, savage communal clashes rage on. Last Monday, over 100 were
killed when thousands of Muslims attacked the mainly Christian village
of Duma on Halmahera Island, north Maluku. Later that week, at least another
11, including five security force personnel, were killed in two days of
violence between Muslims and Christians in Ambon. These clashes and separatist
movements have placed Indonesia under constant international and media
scrutiny. Interestingly, AFP reported on 22 June that the Maluku clashes
had resulted in (Christians) calling for independence. A day before, the
US state department expressed concern over the Muslim-Christian strife.
Spokesman Phil Reeker also urged Indonesia to "prevent organized groups
from initiating attacks and stop extremists from outside areas from inflaming
the situation and engaging in violence". Nothing, however, is as startling
as a 12 June statement by Pope John Paul II. According to reuter, he urged
Indonesia to respect human rights and condemned the attacks by Muslims
against Christians in Maluku.
The US reaction to the
Maluku violence is only expected. After all, the USA is often considered
biased when confronted with human rights or humanitarian issues and will
only raise its voice to either maintain its humanitarian facade or when
it serves its purpose.
To Indonesia's Muslims,
the Pope's statement may be seen as a provocation, a reminder of the event
of 17 November 1095, when Pope Urban II called men to take up swords in
the name of Christendom. Countless men, women and children were slaughtered
during the First Crusade.
The fact is, both Muslims
and Christians have been victimised in the Maluku conflict and to say that
either side suffers most is inappropriate, even dangerous to the point
of provoking more bloodshed.
The question is, was
the Pope ignorant of the fact? It is highly unlikely, because the Vatican
has one of the best information, if not intelligence, networks in the world,
with facts gathered by its priests and nuns, many of whom are in Maluku.
Is the pope calling for a "crusade" that will eventually lead to Maluku's
separation from Indonesia?
Already, suspicions are
high of the Catholic Church's involvement in East Timor's separation from
Indonesia. After all, Portugal received the blessing of Rome when it embarked
on a holy mission to conquer the world and save it from "savages". And
it was Portugal that relentlessly defended its right over East Timor, one
of its colonies that it abandoned in 1974 due to a volatile situation at
home.
Although the West - the
USA, Australia, the European Union - have all chorused their support for
Indonesia's territorial integrity, Indonesia should not befooled by such
diplomatic niceties. Australia repeatedly gave its support for East Timor's
autonomy within Indonesia, and yet it was also the first to ready its troops
for "humanitarian" intervention.
The USA made the pledge
only after President Abdurrahman Wahid announced rejection of the Papua
Congress, arguing that the organisers of the congress had reneged on a
condition that no foreigners take part. The US embassy in Jakarta sent
one of its diplomats to the congress in Jayapura.
On 6 June, two days after
the Papua Congress ended, the US-based Asia Foundation announced a plan
to work closely with the human rights and environment commission of Irian
Jaya's regional legislature. The work will include monitoring and reporting
of past human rights abuses.
Ten days later, on 16
June, the Papua Congress Presidium appointed a human rights advocacy team
to provide legal assistance to those who may have to stand trial under
Indonesian law for their involvement in the congress. In a statement, the
presidium specifically asked for Australia's help in the matter.
The following day, churches
in Irian Jaya urged the Indonesian Military ((TNI) and National Police
(Polri) to be open in dealing with various human rights violations in the
province.
This new approach shows
that, like in East Timor, human rights issues will most likely be used
to help the Irianese attain their goal. Once again, the rest of Indonesia's
people will feel they are being treated unfairly by the international (Christian)
community simply because they are not Christians. Why, for example, did
the Pope not condemn the violence in Aceh? Daring Indonesia is a daring
experiment. A nation of over 220 million people, It has all the elements
of discord. Its ethnic and religious diversity, its multi-culturalism,
its economic differences, all combine as a potential threat to national
unity. It seems a miracle that Sukarno, then Soeharto, managed to hold
the country together. Of the many potential conflicts, religious issues
have been a major threat to the republic ever since its establishment.
Muslim aspirations to build an Islamic state of Indonesia have never really
died down. The Darul Islam rebellion that lasted for nearly 13 years, from
the late 1940s to early the 1960s, is an example of such efforts.
Under President BJ Habibie,
Muslim hardliners found a new, stronger footing that united them against
Western-oriented moderates and non-Muslims. These Muslim hardliners also
blamed the West for international pressure on Indonesia regarding East
Timor, which they saw as a mainly Catholic province.
Recent international
reactions to events in Aceh, Poso and Maluku only serve to intensify suspicions
of a conspiracy against Indonesia's Muslims. There are fears that the West,
and the Catholic Church, are trying to divide Indonesiain to two parts:
the western part for the Muslim population and the eastern part for the
Christians.
It is easy to follow
such logic. After all, the West succeeded in helping East Timor, home to
a mainly Catholic population, secede from Indonesia. Will Irian Jaya and
Maluku follow?
Indonesia is a relatively
young concept and the fall of the New Order government triggered some soul-searching.
If neither Sukarno's Old Order nor Soeharto's New Order is the Indonesia
dreamed up by the founding fathers, then what is the real Indonesia?
It is a big question
that Indonesians are grappling with. As a first step, they may start by
putting religion where it belongs: in their hearts, as a private matter.
Religion unites people as much as it divides people. Religion is a powerful
tool that can mobilise any nation to raise arms to defend their beliefs.
Religion is also a dangerous political instrument, pitting followers of
one faith against those of another, with both sides willing to die to defend
what they believe to be the only truth.
This is what is happening
in Indonesia. Certain people or groups are using religious sentiments for
political gain. Even without the Pope and the West, Indonesians are divided
by their differing faiths.
- The Jakarta Post/Asia
News Network.
