SOME BRIEF NOTES ON MALUKU IN THE CONTEXT OF ISLAND PROVINCE DEVELOPMENT

 

SOME BRIEF NOTES ON MALUKU IN CONTEXT

DEVELOPMENT OF THE ISLAND PROVINCE [1]

By: MJSaptenno[2]

 

A. Introduction.

                Recent social conflicts have often been used as a pretext to discredit the Maluku people. The blame for most of the conflict has been placed on the Maluku people. This mindset must be changed and Maluku must be viewed as an integral part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. The Maluku people actually do not want conflict, but because various parties with vested interests have instigated this conflict, it has become a deeply shameful and devastating blow to Maluku's civilization.

 To develop Maluku in the future, particularly considering its territorial character, which is largely composed of sea dotted with islands, strategic and prudent measures are needed. Political relations between the central and regional governments must be built on the principle of proportionality as part of the concept of justice. The principles of utility and welfare must also be prioritized, so that various development activities do not create inequality and jealousy, but instead focus on the community, enabling it to quickly escape the poverty trap.    

                The struggle to establish an archipelagic province, or any other name, initially proposed by Maluku Province, has been met with challenges and obstacles. Of particular concern is the challenges posed by academics and policymakers, who consistently view the idea as an attempt to divide the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). Such a concept should not be accepted at face value, but rather merits in-depth study to provide philosophical, legal, and sociological justification that can be justified both academically and politically. Differing views on the concept of an archipelagic province are natural, coming from thinkers with diverse educational backgrounds and experiences. It is also worth noting the government's policy of viewing the archipelago as a unified whole with its own distinct characteristics.

Natural resources are abundant but have not been optimally managed due to national development policies that do not provide adequate allocation for archipelagic provinces. One example is Maluku Province, which boasts abundant marine resources, particularly fish, and was recently proclaimed a national fisheries hub. To date, the government has not provided adequate facilities and infrastructure to implement this policy. This demonstrates that various government policies are more rhetoric than concrete actions aimed at developing the Indonesian nation in general and specific regions, toward progress and prosperity for the community at large.

B. Current Factual Conditions of Maluku

Following the Maluku conflict, which began in 1999, government policies have not fully addressed the various issues that have deeply traumatized the Maluku people. The community still lives in segregation based on religious and ethnic groups, resulting in inadequate social cohesion based on self-determination and self-awareness. The government cannot remain silent and assume the Maluku conflict is over, allowing the community to rebuild itself without appropriate and targeted policies. This is crucial for fostering lasting peace in this land of kings. The ripples of the conflict continue to be felt today, even though the government claims Maluku is now safe and conducive.  

                Another concerning aspect is that the government has designated Maluku as one of the poorest provinces in Indonesia. This is quite heartbreaking for every Maluku citizen, as Maluku's abundant natural resources have been exploited to the fullest for national development, yet its people remain impoverished. A deeper examination reveals flawed policies, necessitating wise, holistic, integrated, and targeted action based on a strong, consistent, and consistent commitment from all competent decision-makers and policymakers.

Maluku's natural resources have not been utilized as an instrument to drive development for the welfare of the community. The undeniable adage that where natural resources are abundant, conflict always arises is a reality in this nation of a thousand islands. The government must seriously address this issue and strive to eliminate conflict so that the benefits of development can be felt by the community. If left unchecked, various interests will inevitably be pushed to achieve the short-term goals of certain groups, using methods that are neither morally nor legally justifiable.

 National development policies, which have not fully focused on accelerating development in the island and underdeveloped regions, have resulted in various inequalities that must be eliminated through concrete and beneficial measures. The island region requires serious attention, as the problems it faces are complex and require serious government attention. There is still a lack of strong commitment from the government to building a safe, peaceful, and prosperous Maluku. Many conflicts between residents, between states, or between villages remain unresolved, and other social vulnerabilities remain unaddressed.

 The shattered social cohesion has not been properly rebuilt, so there is no guarantee of a sustainable harmonious and peaceful community life. The protracted Maluku conflict has actually given rise to various human rights violations, but to date, no government policy has been found to unravel this mystery. At the very least, human rights violations take the form of government inaction, which to date have not been revealed by institutions or individuals concerned with human rights issues. Everything that occurs is considered normal or a horizontal conflict between communities, with no complete resolution. This actually requires in-depth study, so as not to leave resentment or a time bomb for future generations.   

C. Expected conditions

1. Maluku Province must rise and emerge from poverty so that it can progress, be independent and prosperous, on a par with other provinces in Indonesia, based on applicable laws and universal values ​​and local wisdom values.

2. The existence of a national development policy pattern that is able to encourage accelerated development in Maluku, including other regions that are unique or special in nature.

3. There needs to be a development policy pattern that can guarantee true and lasting peace in Maluku, by revealing various cases of human rights violations during the conflict.

4. There needs to be a special and integrated commitment and policy from various competent institutions, in an effort to significantly improve the welfare of the community so that the people of Maluku can escape from the conditions of depression and poverty which have become a national issue.

D. Strategic environmental influences

1. The national political system has not yet fully encouraged and guaranteed regional development that can encourage increased public welfare based on the principles of the Archipelago Outlook. This means that the nation's unique and specific perspective on itself and its environment has not yet been fully internalized and become a solid foundation for development.

2. Regions that have a lot of potential natural resources are often used as a source of conflict, and the impact is felt by the community for a long time.

3. The current national political system tends to be based on pressure from certain groups or figures, resulting in policies that are more discriminatory and less proportional in responding to various demands and aspirations from the regions. This results in antipathy toward government policies and the destruction of the values ​​of harmony and togetherness within the national system of governance.

4. Misconceptions and excessive worry about the aspirations of people from areas or regions with special characteristics, namely island regions, to receive special recognition and treatment through various national policies.

5. The geo-strategic, geo-political and geo-economic conditions of each region have not fully become an important instrument and policy basis for strengthening the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, in encouraging the acceleration of regional development that has a special character.

6. Both the government, including the DPR and DPD, do not yet have the same perception regarding the demands of local communities, especially in areas with special characteristics, namely island regions, to receive special treatment. Each institution is still struggling with its own concepts, theoretical foundations, and policies, so it has not fully focused on the main goal, namely special treatment for certain regions or provinces with special characteristics.

7. The government has not yet fully directed serious attention to developing regions in Indonesia that are still considered to be lagging behind, especially in Eastern Indonesia and several other regions in Indonesia.   

E.  Recommendations or strategic steps that can be taken include:

                                For the rehabilitation and development of Maluku Province in the future;

1. The government must be wiser in responding to the various recent conditions of the Maluku community post-conflict, so that it can rebuild harmonious and peaceful social cohesion based on universal values ​​and local wisdom that lives within the community.

2. The government must be more honest and wise in revealing various forms of human rights violations in the Maluku conflict (1999-2005) and not let the public think and form their own perceptions about the various events in the conflict, which until now still remain a mystery.

3. The local wisdom of the Maluku people is increasingly being eroded and must receive serious attention from the government and regional governments, so that it can be used as an important instrument in building a harmonious and peaceful society.

4. Local wisdom values ​​must be developed and internalized through a regular and measured internalization process, so that they become an essential part of the dynamics of Maluku society. These values ​​must be practiced regularly and continuously in all community activities, especially in indigenous communities.

5. The people, especially the young generation of Maluku, who are the owners of the future, must be encouraged to build perceptions and thoughts based on local concepts and wisdom as well as the values ​​of Pancasila, as the philosophy and outlook on life of the Indonesian people in building the nation and state, starting from Maluku which is an inseparable part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

                                For the Establishment of an Island Province;

1. The Government, DPR, DPD and Regional Government must have the same perception regarding development in several regions or provinces, which have special characteristics or character of island areas.

 

2. Academics and bureaucrats as policymakers should reconsider and develop a more objective perspective, based on the objective condition that the Island Province, or whatever name it is given, is important to receive special treatment for the welfare of the community. The foundation of this thinking must be based on an archipelago perspective, so that the uniqueness or distinctiveness of a region must be viewed as part of the nation's pluralistic wealth.

 

3. The government, through the relevant ministries and the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD), must be able to capture the aspirations of the people, especially those from regions with special characteristics (archipelagos), so as not to cause jealousy. If Yogyakarta, Papua, Aceh, and DKI receive special treatment, then the seven (7) provinces with archipelagic characteristics must also receive the same treatment. Without firm and appropriate policies, the government, along with the DPR and DPD, will certainly be considered discriminatory and in a position that is unresponsive to the aspirations and needs of the people.

 

4. The government, together with the DPR and DPD, must have a strong commitment to realizing the aspirations of the people, so as not to give rise to various prolonged political conflicts.

 

5. The government, the DPR and the DPD must be consistent and consequent in fighting for the interests of the community, towards development that can improve the welfare of the community in general and especially the community in the island region.

 

6. The government and the DPR must be more realistic in responding to various factual conditions of society, especially in island regions, so that they are able to answer various development challenges based on the principle of security.

 

7. The government and the DPR must immediately stipulate a Draft Law on Special Treatment for Island Provinces or another name for the seven provinces with island characteristics, so that it does not cause conflict in the dynamics of national politics.

 

8. From a geo-strategic, geo-political and geo-economic perspective, provinces with island characteristics actually deserve special treatment, so that they can become important pillars in building a developed and independent nation, strengthening the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and being able to prevent various infiltrations, threats and other disturbances.

F. Closing

                These are some key points that can be presented for discussion in order to find appropriate solutions for the development of our beloved nation and country. We hope this is helpful.