tempointeractive Tuesday, 26 January, 2010 | 16:55 WIB
South Sulawesi Threatened by Conflicts TEMPO Interactive, Makassar: It has been revealed that at least 12 regions in the country have potential ethnic conflicts, struggles over natural resources and fights caused by political alignments and corruption. In South Sulawesi, the seeds of conflict have existed since a long time and have started to grow now. If they are not anticipated, conflicts like those in Poso, Ambon or Aceh could easily explode. This concern is being studied by peace activists for three days at Clarion Hotel Makassar from yesterday until tomorrow. The discussion forum for peace facilitators titled “Movement Synergy for a Peaceful Indonesia” is being attended followed by 100 participants from within the country and abroad. Conflicts in South Sulawesi, according to Sofyan Sinte, a peace coordinator from the region, could be triggered by 11 simultaneous regional leaders elections in June. The conflict embryo exploded last week in Pangkep Regency. Supporters from two candidate regency leaders clashed. The local police have named two persons as suspects. Below are potential conflicts in 12 provinces: Province Trigger 1. Aceh Natural resources exploitation 2. Lampung Natural resources exploitation 3. West Kalimantan Natural resources exploitation 4. North Sulawesi Natural resources exploitation 5. Central Sulawesi Natural resources exploitation, conservatism and radicalism, ethnic, religious, race inter-group issues 6. South Sulawesi Natural resources exploitation, corruption, political parties’ conflict and sectarianism 7. Maluku Natural resources exploitation 8. North Maluku Natural resources exploitation and corruption 9. East Natural resources exploitation Nusa Tenggara 10. West Conservatism and radicalism, Nusa Tenggara ethnic, religious, race, inter-group issues 11. Papua Natural resources exploitation, conservatism, radicalism, ethnic, religious, race, inter-group issues, political parties’ conflict, sectarianism and corruption. 12. West Papua Natural resources exploitation, conservatism, radicalism, ethnic, religious, race inter-group issues, political parties conflict, sectarianism and corruption 11 Simultaneous Regional Leaders Elections Gowa Regency Bulukumba Regency Selayar Regency Maros Regency Pangkep Regency Barru Regency Soppeng Regency Tana Toraja Regency Toraja Utara Regency http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2010/01/26/brk,20100126-221552,uk.html copyright TEMPO 2003
