29
similarly bolstered by the support afforded by Islamic politicians. By mid-2000, the first
wave of 3000 warriors arrived in Maluku.
51
There, security forces, except for occasional
confrontations with the police, either let the militia be or backed their maneuvers.
Markedly, the militias waged a systematic campaign of terror to create local “cantonment”
of Muslims and Christians across southern Maluku (ICG 2000, 12). Stern action taken
against the militias would have invited politically sensitive pro-Christian charges in the
face of Muslim deaths. Undoubtedly, their arrival, along with similar militias, re-ignited
the bloodshed.
52
Unlike in Kalimantan, however, the Maluku affair consisted of multiple,
fragmented expulsions: particular villages or certain parts of an island were cleansed, while
in Ambon city, distinct zones within materialized. Not until a joint crack unit began to
confront physically the Laskar Jihad in late 2000 and early 2001 did the violence decline
precipitously. Although isolated attacks were recorded in early 2002 (ICG 2002) and did
continue sporadically thereafter, mass confrontations had essentially halted.
Still, it requires emphasis that although outsiders like the Laksar Jihad prolonged
this tragedy, violence had flared for nearly 18 months prior to their arrival. In contrast, the
Kalimantan riots petered out after a few weeks. Once again, this difference lies in the
51
Despite threats of arrest by President Wahid, they were allowed to sail to Maluku from
Surabaya, Indonesia’s second city. Their arrival compelled Wahid on June 27, 2000 to declare for
Maluku a state of civil emergency, which is below that of a state of military emergency and
martial law.
52
Again, due the religious-ascriptions of the violence, the international dimensions of this
tragedy, more so than in the Kalimantan examples, exacerbated the conflict. Muslims were
reported to have received material support coming from the Middle East. Likewise support was
afforded Christians by religious groups based in Europe (where RMS exiles and their descents are
numerous) and Australia. Jusuf Kalla, the current coordinating minister of people’s welfare, said
recently, “the conflict was sold internationally (paraphrase).” Singapore, IDDS Seminar, July 18,
2003.
Convention