Commentary: SBY catches fireball in North Maluku conflict

Ridwan Max Sijabat ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 04/24/2008 12:25 AM  |  Headlines

The prolonged dispute over North Maluku's gubernatorial election could result in a new sectarian conflict, bloodier than the conflict between 2000 and 2002, unless it is managed amicably and democratically.

Six months after the elections of September 2007, the new governor has yet to be determined, the dispute is growing bigger and the political situation is heating up with more sides getting involved.

Ternate, the capital of North Maluku, has been shaken by massive rallies and rocked by clashes between supporters of incumbent Governor Thaib Armaiyn and his rival, Abdul Gafur, and security personnel.

Tension has been on the rise in Ternate since the provincial legislative council failed to reach a peaceful settlement in its implementation of a Supreme Court edict that was issued in March.

In its plenary session last week, attended by 20 councilors from the Golkar Party, the 35-member provincial legislature recommended the government accept the victory of Gafur and swear him in as the new governor.

Instead of issuing a tough edict, the Supreme Court recommended that the home minister determine the new governor after consultation with the provincial legislature.

Fearing being trapped between conflicting sides, the minister set up a small team to lobby the provincial legislature which later made the controversial recommendation.

Many see the dispute as a conflict between two giants -- Gafur and his running mate Abdurrahim Fabanyo nominated by Golkar (chaired by Vice President Jusuf Kalla), and Thaib and his running mate Abdul Ghani Kasuba nominated by six parties, including the Democratic Party, which has President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as its chairman of patrons.

The Supreme Court edict annulled the result of a vote recount conducted by the General Elections Commission (KPU) after it decided to take over the vote count from the North Maluku provincial general elections commission (KPUD).

The KPU stepped in after the North Maluku chapter of the KPUD encountered massive protests over its vote counts in West Halmahera's Jailolo, South Ibu and East Sahu. North Maluku KPUD chairman Rahmi Husen was dismissed and a new chairman, Muchlis Tapi Tapi, was appointed.

Taking all of this into account, what must the government now do with this complex issue? It can no longer remain neutral as it is obligated to find a peaceful solution to conflicts in the KPUD, provincial legislatures and the community at large.

The President and ministers should accept the result of a vote count conducted by Rahmi Husen, and recognize the victory of Thaib and Abdul Ghani (as implied by the court). Such a move would be in compliance with the Supreme Court verdict which annulled the KPU vote recount.

Both the Vice President and Golkar should humbly accept the incumbent governor's reelection, to maintain political stability, and support the growing democracy in the relatively new province.

Regarding the rising tension, the central government should take a recent meeting between high-powered government officials and all conflicting sides at Babulla airport in Ternate as a signal the conflict is over.

The presence of conflicting sides within the KPUD and provincial legislative council at the meeting gives a green light to the home minister to help facilitate a reconciliation within the two institutions.

Rahmi Husen needs to be reinstated as KPUD chairman and a reconciliation between the KPU and KPUD should be facilitated to save face.

The presence of Indonesian Military chief Gen. Djoko Santoso and National Police chief Gen. Sutanto at the two-hour meeting sent a signal to all sides and local elites that security authorities will get tough on any further disturbances in the province.

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