ABSTRACT
As Indonesia democratized between 1999 and 2002, eight regions of the country erupted into violent conflict. Three provinces – Aceh, East Timor (Timor Leste), and Papua – saw an upsurge in secessionist violence and repression. In five other locations – Maluku, North Maluku, Central Sulawesi, and West and Central Kalimantan – ethnic and religious communities fought over land, resources, and political power. This chapter examines the causes of these conflicts and considers why they occurred at this particular juncture in Indonesia’s history. It finds that while the rapid national political transition affected all areas of the country, in some regions, this change interacted with local phenomena in particularly volatile ways. The chapter also considers how local communities and local and national leaders brought the fighting to an end and why Indonesia has avoided a return to large-scale conflict.
