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| Intergroup Relations: Causes of Increased Hostility |
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Over the last two years, ethnic violence and hostility has been mounting in Indonesia. The underlying causes of increasing tensions include political instability, economic problems, and the remnants of the government’s policy on transmigration.
The uncertainty following the end of the Suharto regime and the precariousness of former President Wahid’s position meant that the government was not stable enough to prevent conflict or mediate disputes. Despite Wahid’s support for human rights and religious tolerance, his impeachment recently preoccupied the political agenda, rather than the need to curtail ethnic tensions. It has even been suggested that the military may be inciting the violence to stir up unrest and topple the already weak government. It remains to be seen whether Megawati will be more effective than Wahid was in containing the simmering hatreds and many clashing interests of the country she now rules.
Heightened ethnic tensions, especially against the Chinese, are partially a result of economic scarcity following the Asian financial crisis.
Another cause for the rising ethnic violence is the Transmigration Program instituted by former President Suharto. The resettlement project was designed to move people from densely populated islands to some of the less habited ones. Migrants were given land, housing, and access to education and healthcare. The indigenous people often resented the new migrants, and felt that their land and culture were being invaded. The transmigration policy has led to many clashes between the migrants and the indigenous people in various regions of the country.
View more information on Indonesia's economic affairs
View more information on the impact of the Transmigration Program
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