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Religious leaders stress unity in conflict-scarred Maluku

Indonesia's regional elections offers chance to further repair damage caused in province by deadly sectarian violence
Religious leaders stress unity in conflict-scarred Maluku

Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi of Amboina is calling on people in the Maluku region not let elections on Feb. 15 destroy unity and peace (Photo supplied by Indonesian Bishops' Conference)

Published: February 13, 2017 08:26 AM GMT
Updated: February 13, 2017 08:27 AM GMT

Christian and Muslim leaders in the Maluku Islands have stressed the need to strengthen unity ahead of upcoming regional elections and reminded people of their dark past when thousands were killed in sectarian conflict.

The elections will be held on Feb. 15 in seven provinces, 76 districts and 18 municipalities including Maluku province and its Ambon municipality.

"Do not let the elections destroy unity and peace we have built [since the sectarian conflict],"Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi of Amboina Feb. 8.

Clashes between Christians and Muslims in Maluku between 1999-2002, killed more than 6,000 people and displaced several hundred thousand.

However, Bishop Mandagi believed that local people have learned from their past experiences and will not allow it to happen again.

He also called on local police not to deploy a large number of security personnel to secure the elections, particularly in Maluku province, and to trust to local people.

National Police chief General Tito Karnavian has said about 70,000 policemen would be deployed to secure the entire election. About 3,000 are expected to be on duty for the Maluku polls.

The Rev. Jacky Manuputty from the Protestant Church of Maluku several people had attempted to stir up ethnic and religious tensions.

"No one paid attention to them," he said, because people were aware of the consequences of sectarian clashes.

Maluku province has a population of about 1.5 million, most of whom are Muslims or Protestants. There are also Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus and Confucians.

According to Manuputty, local candidates for the election are a mixture of Muslims and Protestants, representing the two largest communities.

Abidin Wakano, deputy head of the Indonesian Ulema Council Maluku chapter, called on people to see the elections as an opportunity to strengthen ties among people of different backgrounds.

"We must hold hands to strengthen our integrity. Let us celebrate peaceful elections for the sake of a civilized society," he said.

 

Good leader needed

Amir Kotarumalos, a political analyst from state-run Pattimura University in Ambon, said political awareness in the locality had become better.

"All social elements see that the most important thing is the need for a leader who is capable of making Ambon more humane and civilized," he told ucanews.com.

"The want a leader who can raise people's quality of life by creating more job opportunities and improving the economic situation," he said.

Many people lost belongings and homes in the sectarian conflict and have struggled to recover in the years since.

Poverty still lurks everywhere, he said.

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