Management of inter-ethnic groups conflict: a comparative study of Indonesian and Malay experiences

Abstract

This article will discuss the management of ethnic group conflicts based on comparative study of inter-ethnic groups in Padang, West Sumatera and in Southern Thailand. This article has been prepared based on the information, ideas, and analysis derived from several main sources: a case study and library research, review of papers written by a number of researchers and scholars, and some daily newspapers. The main problem of this research is how to develop mechanism or model of conflict management of between the conflicting ethnic groups. The objective of this research was to identify and to develop mechanism or model of conflict management that were able to reduce the gap between the ethnic groups. The finding of this study indicated that conflict between the ethnic groups which had taken place all this time was more often caused by prejudice attitude of each group to the other and discrimination behaviour. The difference of the use of local language in social intercourse and separation of ethnic group settlement seemed to be a complementary factors. This conflict was intensified by the difference of religion the two ethnic groups. It could be concluded that prejudice attitude and discrimination behaviour of ethnic group to the other was an important factor in causing a conflict. The less of dialogue and openness between the conflicting groups would make the conflict become longer and the process of integration run more slowly.