The Sectarian Violence in Sulawesi and Maluku at the Turn of the Century - Case Study Example

Within such conditions, various issues are questioned including the use of religious narratives to explain one’s state of being, including persecution and resistance; moreover, the role of religious sectors as venues for discussions on legitimacy as well as tools of mobilization have also been made an issue.  Finally, religious contents of nationalism are also evaluated within the foundations of the sectarian violence.  Within this discussion, it would be proper to assume that violent skirmishes do not often unfold immediately, they usually do so with time and with the combination of specific events.

  This discussion ultimately does not seek to evaluate sectarian struggle between religious communities, instead, it would discuss the competing visions on the underlying principles of the nation and the state.  This study shall first provide a background of the violence which broke out in Sulawesi and Maluku from 1999 to 2001.  It will then provide a discussion on the various causes of the incident, including the relationship of such conflict with the concept of nationhood and religion.

  This discussion is being undertaken in order to establish clarity in the understanding of sectarian violence, including specific qualities of Sulawesi and Maluku which have had a significant impact on the manifestation of the violence. Sulawesi is an island of Indonesia located between Borneo and Maluku.  Both the Sulawesi and Maluku islands are part of Indonesia and have gone through similar experiences in terms of their history and administrative affairs (Ananta, et.al., 2004).

  Throughout the years, Sulawesi and Maluku have witnessed various violent skirmishes between the Muslims and Christians, and the most notable recent incident was seen at the turn of the century between 1999 and 2001 when violence was unleashed by the Islamist militias and Christian youth gangs (Ananta, et.al., 2004).  In Central Sulawesi alone, about 1000 individuals were by numerous violent incidents (BBC News, 2004).  When the Malino II Accord was drawn up in 2001 in an attempt to stem the violence in the region, violence was hardly eradicated.

 In the years that followed, more attacks were seen (Adam and Anwar, 2005).  In fact, in 2003, 13 Christians were killed by unknown gunmen.  Later, in 2005, three Christian schoolgirls were beheaded by Islam jihadists (BBC News, 2004).  More riots were seen in 2006, especially in the predominantly Christian areas of Central Sulawesi following the execution of three Catholics who were convicted for their militant activities (BBC News, 2004).  The supporters of these Catholics indicated that Muslims who took part in the violence were given more lenient sentences and that no death sentences were even handed out.

  They accused the government of having a double standard in its management of the conflict and the riots were therefore being directed towards the government, not the Muslims (BBC News, 2006).