Jakarta – The frequent brawls involving Betawi organizations in Jakarta have raised questions over why they still exist, and who encourages them.
It is normal for ethnic-based groups to protect their territory, University of Indonesia sociologist Muhammad Mustofa said. "They want to show their teeth on their turf. Violence is also a by-product of unemployment, when thuggery and crime become the only alternatives," Mustofa said.
The Betawi Consultative Body (Bamus Betawi) was established to supervise the activities of Betawi-based mass organizations in Jakarta on June 22, 1982. It now has more than 110 affiliates.
Two Bamus affiliates, the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) and the Betawi People's Communication Forum (Forkabi), were involved in recent brawls in South Jakarta. The Jakarta Police have refused to disband the organizations, saying their existence is protected under the Constitution.
Furthermore, instead of taking action against the groups, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo opted to embrace the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) group to "maintain security and order" in the city during the upcoming fasting month of Ramadan. The move has been criticized because the FPI has a well-documented history of committing violent acts against those it believes are not in line with their perspectives.
Political scientist Chusnul Mariyah explained that in Indonesia's developing electoral democracy, politicians had the maneuverability to use various tools to further their political agendas. This sometimes involves using thugs, gang lords and the mafia.
"The problem in this reform era is that some of these thugs, gang members and mobsters are becoming politicians themselves. This also raises questions about how the Betawi consultative body works in relation to both thugs and civil authorities," Mariyah said.
"The city administration, among other benefactors, picks up our tab," Bamus Betawi vice chairman Amarullah Asbah said. However, these are non-binding funds that do not shape the body's policies. "The city administration is only our partner," he said.
Data obtained by The Jakarta Post shows that the city allocated Rp 700 million (US$78,400) from the city budget for Bamus Betawi in 2009. Bamus Betawi vice secretary general Azis Khafia explained that the body spent the funds on transparent activities and programs.
"We once donated Rp 50 million each to the FBR and the Forkabi to support their large gatherings. But we also fund the Betawi cultural society (LKB) programs," Aziz said.
It's a mutual relationship between parties who need mass support for their political interests and organizations who want to maintain their power, he added.
"Fauzi is our asset," said Husain Sani, a member of the Bamus Betawi advisory board, who heads Forkabi. Fauzi is a native Betawi governor and currently heads the Bamus Betawi advisory board.
Betawi community figure Ridwan Saidi explained that some Betawi mass organizations were struggling with their identity in Jakarta, and some feared they were being marginalized in their own town. "They have identity problems. They fear becoming outcasts, so they assert their existence through violence," Ridwan said.
According to Ridwan, each Betawi group ran activities to preserve their culture, however, it was difficult for them to formulate and coordinate their activities.
"It is hard for them to focus solely on cultural preservation. Beyond that they turn their focus onto economic activities. Eventually there are rivalries and economic power struggles," Ridwan said.
He added that business rivalries often stemmed from conflicts over rights to collect from traditional markets and parking lots; conflicts that were usually resolved using force and violence. (ipa)