Religious leaders urge for soft power to end Ambon problems

Religious leaders say the government needs to use a persuasive and comprehensive approach to resolve conflicts between members of Ambon's diverse community.

Abdul Mu’ti from the second-largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah said, “We need a long-term solution that uses a soft power approach and reinforces social security in Ambon.”

He added that a "quick-and-dirty" solution, including the use of security personnel to restore order, would never be a permanent solution.

“We need to look at multifaceted roots of the conflict,” he added.

Abdul cited a report indicating that religious issues were no longer the trigger of conflicts among the Ambonese.

Benny Susetyo from the interreligious commission with the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) said Indonesia needed leaders who could show hope as well as ways to find it.

“The root of the problem in Ambon is whether the government has the political will. So far the [government] efforts have been aimed at controlling the conflicts rather than resolving them thoroughly,” he said.

On Sunday, a Muslim ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver died, but allegations spread that he was tortured to death by a group of Christians. The death rumor spread via text messages, and led to riots that claimed the lives of seven people, injured at least 65 others, and damaged or burned down at least 200 buildings.

Police later announced that the ojek driver had in fact died in a road accident, as confirmed by an autopsy, and that irresponsible persons had distorted the facts and provoked an angry response that later resulted in rioting. (rpt)