T

he government has promised to set aside special funds worth Rp 1 trillion (US$105 million) for infrastructure development and restoration in Madura, East Java, on the condition that the conflict between the Sunni and Shia groups in Sampang is resolved.

The government has also promised both groups it would carry out various development programs by
a number of ministries.

The government'€™s pledge was conveyed by East Java Governor Soekarwo during the third reconciliation dialogue between the Sunni and Shia communities at the Sunan Ampel State Islamic Institute (IAIN) in Surabaya on Tuesday evening.

According to Soekarwo, underdevelopment in Madura is one of the factors that easily triggers social issues among the Madurese community.

Apart from the Rp 1 trillion in special funds, the central government, through the Public Housing Ministry will also initiate various development programs for the community on the island.

Public Housing Minister Djan Faridz said his ministry would build infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, as well as rebuild homes of Shia refugees, which were razed by the mob during the riot in
August 2012.

'€œTo prevent jealousy among the society, we will also make efforts to restore and renovate homes of non-refugees in two villages, followed by renovations of homes in two districts in Sampang,'€ Djan told
reporters after the dialog.

Based on preliminary data, he went on, 397 homes in the two villages would be reconstructed. Djan also offered rented low-cost apartments for students of Islamic boarding schools.

'€œThe apartments would be provided to them when the reconciliation has been achieved and completed. We hope refugees would return to their places of origin and return to the true Islamic teaching,'€ said Djan.

The Sunni-Shia conflict in Sampang has been in the spotlight as the international community regards Indonesia to be incapable of protecting the rights of the minority.

Members of the Shia minority community have been displaced for almost a year following a riot involving Shiites and an anti-Shia group in Sampang.

Two Shiites were killed, while dozens of houses belonging to Shiites were burned down by a mob in the incident. The majority of Indonesians are Sunni Muslims.

The displaced Shia families comprising 224 people are living in the Puspa Agro low-cost apartments.

Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali visited Sampang on Wednesday to meet Madurese clerics. However, they were still in a deadlock because the Madurese clerics, affiliated with the Board of Madura Clerics (Bassra) remained firm on some points that the Shia community had to agree to in advance before they were allowed to return to their respective villages.

The points include: Followers of Shiite cleric Tajul Muluk have to be sterilized from provocateurs; followers of Tajul Muluk are not allowed to study outside Sampang; reconciliation can only be carried out if the Shia group returns to the pure Islamic teaching; Shia followers have to pledge their repentance in front of the public and publicized by the media, and they must promise to bear the consequences should they break the promise.

Shia refugee coordinator Iklil Al Milal expressed his concern over this limitation. '€œFaith cannot be forced upon. The faith issue is a matter of our ability to understand and digest. We should seek similarity but not differences. We have always been living in harmony with our relatives from the Sunni community, until the issue arose,'€ said Iklil.

Meanwhile, Sunan Ampel IAIN rector Abdul A'€™la said his university would hold another dialogue for both parties to reconcile. '€œWe must be optimistic. We have been involved in the process. We have tried to be in the middle to seek a solution. If there are differences, we must find the dissimilarities and continue to seek a resolution.'€