T

o avoid the reoccurrence of past social conflicts, some of which resulted in fatalities, particularly during this year'€™s elections, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has issued an instruction to all relevant institutions to beef up alertness on potential conflicts and to enhance efforts to address them before they escalate into physical clashes.

Presidential Instruction No. 1/2014 was signed by the President on Feb. 28 but it was released to the public on Sunday. The instruction highlights the importance of comprehensive efforts between regional administrations and the central government. Missed-coordination between the two had been blamed for past conflicts in regions, such as religious conflicts, land disputes between plantation companies and locals, as well as conflicts related to local elections.

Yudhoyono specifically addresses his instruction to Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating People'€™s Welfare Minister Agung Laksono, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik, Attorney General Basrief Arief, National Police chief Gen. Sutarman, Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Moeldoko, National Land Agency (BPN) head Hendarman Supandji, National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Marciano Norman, Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) head Asep Karsidi, as well as all governors, mayors and regents.

The instruction contains eight points. First, the President orders improvements in the handling of social conflicts in accordance to the authorities given by the laws.

'€œSecond, take preventative measures by quickly and properly responding to problems within societies that have the potential to escalate to social conflict,'€ the instruction reads.

Third, continue to address social problems, including those caused by land or resource disputes, religious and ethnic problems, border disputes or other industrial problems, particularly by addressing the root of the problems.

Fourth, continue the legal processes quickly, properly, decisively and proportionally, accordingly to the laws with respect to human rights and avoid the use of violence in any form.

'€œFifth, continue past-conflict efforts such as handling the displaced, reconciliation, rehabilitation, reconstruction and the reestablishment of safety and security among the people,'€ the President instructs.

In the sixth, the President orders the creation of an action plan on comprehensive management of domestic security disturbances, which is mainly based on prevention, addressing root problems and past-conflict recovery. The seventh point says that the funds for the efforts under this instruction will be financed by the state budget or local budgets in relevant regions. '€œEight, implement this instruction seriously and with full responsibility.'€

Earlier this month, Police chief Gen. Sutarman said his force had detected that political violence and intimidation had begun to escalate in the lead-up to the legislative election in April.

His statement came on the heels of shooting incidents in Aceh, in which Faisal, a legislative candidate from the Aceh National Party (PNA), was shot dead by unidentified assailants.