IV-5. “The Maluku Conflict and Reconciliation: An Interdisciplinary Study” (H28-29 FY2016-2017)


  • Project Leader : Kawano Yoshiharu (National Institute of Technology,Yuge College, General Education Department)
  • Collaborators : Okamoto Masaaki (Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies)
  • : Koike Makoto (Momoyama University, Faculty of International Studies and Liberal Arts)
  • : Saeki Natsuko (Nagoya Gakuin University, Faculty of Intercultural Studies)
  • : Suzuki Takashi (Momoyama University, Faculty of International Studies and Liberal Arts)
  • : Nagatsu Kazufumi (Toyo University, Faculty of Sociology)
  • : Nishi Yoshimi (Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies)
  • : Mase Tomoko (Nanzan University, Faculty of Foreign Studies)
  • : Yamaguchi Hiroko (University of Kitakyushu, Faculty of Humanities)

Outline of Research

We analyze the Maluku conflict and reconciliation in relation to other conflicts across Indonesia and within the context of the global Islamic extremist movement. Researchers of Maluku culture and history, regional conflicts in Indonesia, the “preman” organizations that played a significant role in the conflict, Maluku refugees in the Netherlands who were blamed for allegedly being involved in the conflict, immigrants in the region, and the international network of Indonesians will all be involved in this interdisciplinary study.

Description

The Maluku conflict that lasted from 1999 to the late 2000s resulted from several interrelated factors, including democratization and opposition to it, religious conflicts, interregional immigration, and the global escalation of the Islamic extremist movement. We examine the Maluku conflict in light of similar conflicts that happened at the same time in Indonesia.

Although many studies and news reports on the Maluku conflict have been published, this will be the first to empirically analyze its causes and background, and that takes into account all of the abovementioned factors as well as the relevant international networks of Christians and Muslims. The cooperation of researchers from various fields will enable us to scrutinize an enormous number of existing records and documents and data to achieve an accurate, detailed, and comprehensive understanding of the Maluku conflict and reconciliation. By describing the past and present structures of political destabilization in the region, the study will contribute to reconciliation and the prevention of conflicts.

 


The plaza of Mamala village. Every levalan , “Pukul sapu” is done at this plaza. “Pukul sapu” is thought as the symbol of Maluku’s unity.

A broom of “Pukul sapu”