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Sulawesi
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Laskar Jihad
Laskar Jihad, led by Jaffar Umar Thalib, a charismatic preacher and veteran of the Afghan-Soviet war, is a Java-based radical militia group focused on assisting oppressed Muslims wherever they may need help. Laskar Jihad’s activities can be categorized under three general objectives: “to ignite the people’s passion to overcome tragedy and promote a better understanding of the teachings of Islam; establish and maintain infrastructures for social services such as health care and education; provide security.”
In November 2001, an estimated 7000 Laskar Jihad fighters entered the area around Poso, in an apparent continuation of their involvement in the inter-religious conflict in Maluku. One of the tasks of the Indonesian security forces recently brought to Central Kalimantan to halt the violence is to expel groups that do not belong there, meaning Laskar Jihad, although the group was not directly named.
For more information on Laskar Jihad’s role in Poso, click here: http://www.laskarjihad.or.id/english/news/ags2001/eng010810.htm
Tentena City
The Christian highland town of Tentena, where the Christian fighters have their stronghold, has become a de facto mini-state. The Indonesian police are not welcome in Tentena, and due to local hostility, the police have been unsuccessful in addressing this situation. Christian vigilantes, armed with makeshift weapons, check cars coming in and out of the town.
Tentena is allegedly the base for the “Black Bats”, so-called ninja raiders who have allegedly been the perpetrators of some of Poso’s worst violence.
Indonesian Government
The State’s response to the intercommunal violence raging through Central Sulawesi has been extremely limited. Exacerbating the issue were statements by former President Wahid, who exhorted Poso citizens to handle the matter for themselves. The government’s explicit disavowal of its mission to protect and defend its citizens may question the likelihood of an active role of the government in the on-going conflict.
However, while the military has done very little to prevent violence in the region, some communities have claimed that the police have attempted intervention, albeit unsuccessfully. Police intervention, when it has occurred, has not been neutral, as government units have sided with Muslims on occasion when defending against attacks by Christian “Black Bats.”
Some have suggested that, in addition to its partiality, the authorities seem to believe that intervention may in fact only inflame the problems, as opposed to resolving them. Such was the case when the Palu District Court sentenced three “Black Bat” commanders to death, sparking another wave of riots.
Emerging from such sentiments, among other things, has been the recent proposal by authorities to implement customary law over legalistic measures as a means of solution. Inspired by the notion that the customs of traditional culture, which did in fact house amiable relations between Christians and Muslims for decades, can best alleviate the inter-religious problems in Poso, the House of Representatives (MPR) in Jakarta proposed in August 2001 that customary law be used to settle disputes.
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