The Role of Law Enforcement in Managing Communal Conflict

Sostones Yakobis Sisinaru(1email), Eko Basuki(2), Marthin Jonas Maspaitella(3)


(1) Faculty of Law , Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku, Ambon, Indonesia
(2) Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku, Ambon, Indonesia
(3) Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku, Ambon, Indonesia
email Corresponding Author
CrossMark

Abstract


Introduction: Research on communal conflict in Maluku has received little attention from researchers in the fields of law and social sciences.

Purposes of the Research: This study was conducted to understand communal conflict in Maluku and the role of the police in managing it.

Methods of the Research: This study used a qualitative approach, with narrative analysis used for data analysis.

Results of the Research: Village boundary disputes and interpersonal conflicts remain the dominant factors influencing the emergence of communal conflict within society. Law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, are considered not yet optimal in implementing anticipatory and preventive measures to address the potential escalation of communal conflict. Furthermore, the police intelligence function is viewed as not fully effective in conducting early detection of social frictions and emerging conflict potentials within the community. Communal conflicts have the potential to generate prolonged collective resentment, thereby increasing societal vulnerability to provocation and involvement in communal violence against individuals or groups with whom they have previously been in conflict. In the context of handling customary territorial boundary disputes between the Sawai and Huaulu communities, the police, in collaboration with judicial institutions, have undertaken legal resolution efforts in accordance with applicable procedures and statutory regulations. Nevertheless, segments of the community who perceive themselves as disadvantaged by the legal decisions have not been able to fully accept the outcomes of those rulings. Therefore, the police and other law enforcement institutions need to intensify legal outreach and public legal awareness education, particularly among conflict-prone indigenous communities, regarding disputes over territorial boundaries or customary land.

Keywords


Communal Conflict; Boundary Disputes; Role of The Police.


DOI


10.47268/sasi.v31i4.3379

Published


2025-12-31

How To Cite


APA: Sisinaru, S.Y., Basuki, E., & Maspaitella, M.J. (2025). The Role of Law Enforcement in Managing Communal Conflict. SASI, 31(4), 429-437. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47268/sasi.v31i4.3379.
IEEE: S.Y. Sisinaru, E. Basuki, and M.J. Maspaitella, "The Role of Law Enforcement in Managing Communal Conflict", SASI, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 429-437, Dec. 2025. Accessed on: Jan. 24, 2026. [Online]. Available DOI: https://doi.org/10.47268/sasi.v31i4.3379
Harvard: Sisinaru, S.Y., Basuki, E., and Maspaitella, M.J., (2025). "The Role of Law Enforcement in Managing Communal Conflict". SASI, Volume 31(4), pp. 429-437. [Online]. Available DOI: https://doi.org/10.47268/sasi.v31i4.3379 (Accessed on: 24 January 2026)
Chicago: Sisinaru, Sostones Yakobis, Eko Basuki, and Marthin Jonas Maspaitella. "The Role of Law Enforcement in Managing Communal Conflict." SASI 31, no. 4 (October 25, 2025): 429-437. Accessed January 24, 2026. doi:10.47268/sasi.v31i4.3379
Vancouver: Sisinaru SY, Basuki E, Maspaitella MJ. The Role of Law Enforcement in Managing Communal Conflict. SASI [Internet]. 2025 Dec 31 [cited 2026 Jan 24];31(4):429-437. Available from: https://doi.org/10.47268/sasi.v31i4.3379
MLA 8th: Sisinaru, Sostones Yakobis, Eko Basuki, and Marthin Jonas Maspaitella. "The Role of Law Enforcement in Managing Communal Conflict." SASI, vol. 31, no. 4, 25 Oct. 2025, pp. 429-437, doi:10.47268/sasi.v31i4.3379. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
BibTeX:
@article{SASI3379,
		author = {Sostones Sisinaru and Eko Basuki and Marthin Maspaitella},
		title = {The Role of Law Enforcement in Managing Communal Conflict},
		journal = {SASI},
		volume = {31},
		number = {4},
		year = {2025},
		keywords = {Communal Conflict; Boundary Disputes; Role of The Police.},
		abstract = {Introduction: Research on communal conflict in Maluku has received little attention from researchers in the fields of law and social sciences.Purposes of the Research: This study was conducted to understand communal conflict in Maluku and the role of the police in managing it.Methods of the Research: This study used a qualitative approach, with narrative analysis used for data analysis.Results of the Research: Village boundary disputes and interpersonal conflicts remain the dominant factors influencing the emergence of communal conflict within society. Law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, are considered not yet optimal in implementing anticipatory and preventive measures to address the potential escalation of communal conflict. Furthermore, the police intelligence function is viewed as not fully effective in conducting early detection of social frictions and emerging conflict potentials within the community. Communal conflicts have the potential to generate prolonged collective resentment, thereby increasing societal vulnerability to provocation and involvement in communal violence against individuals or groups with whom they have previously been in conflict. In the context of handling customary territorial boundary disputes between the Sawai and Huaulu communities, the police, in collaboration with judicial institutions, have undertaken legal resolution efforts in accordance with applicable procedures and statutory regulations. Nevertheless, segments of the community who perceive themselves as disadvantaged by the legal decisions have not been able to fully accept the outcomes of those rulings. Therefore, the police and other law enforcement institutions need to intensify legal outreach and public legal awareness education, particularly among conflict-prone indigenous communities, regarding disputes over territorial boundaries or customary land.},
				issn = {2614-2961},		pages = {429--437}			doi = {10.47268/sasi.v31i4.3379},
				url = {https://fhukum.unpatti.ac.id/jurnal/sasi/article/view/3379}
		}
		
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Dublin Core PKP Metadata Items Metadata for this Document
 
1. Title Title of document The Role of Law Enforcement in Managing Communal Conflict
 
2. Creator Author's name, affiliation, country Sostones Yakobis Sisinaru; Faculty of Law , Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku, Ambon; Indonesia
 
2. Creator Author's name, affiliation, country Eko Basuki; Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku, Ambon; Indonesia
 
2. Creator Author's name, affiliation, country Marthin Jonas Maspaitella; Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku, Ambon; Indonesia
 
3. Subject Discipline(s)
 
3. Subject Keyword(s) Communal Conflict; Boundary Disputes; Role of The Police.
 
4. Description Abstract Introduction: Research on communal conflict in Maluku has received little attention from researchers in the fields of law and social sciences.Purposes of the Research: This study was conducted to understand communal conflict in Maluku and the role of the police in managing it.Methods of the Research: This study used a qualitative approach, with narrative analysis used for data analysis.Results of the Research: Village boundary disputes and interpersonal conflicts remain the dominant factors influencing the emergence of communal conflict within society. Law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, are considered not yet optimal in implementing anticipatory and preventive measures to address the potential escalation of communal conflict. Furthermore, the police intelligence function is viewed as not fully effective in conducting early detection of social frictions and emerging conflict potentials within the community. Communal conflicts have the potential to generate prolonged collective resentment, thereby increasing societal vulnerability to provocation and involvement in communal violence against individuals or groups with whom they have previously been in conflict. In the context of handling customary territorial boundary disputes between the Sawai and Huaulu communities, the police, in collaboration with judicial institutions, have undertaken legal resolution efforts in accordance with applicable procedures and statutory regulations. Nevertheless, segments of the community who perceive themselves as disadvantaged by the legal decisions have not been able to fully accept the outcomes of those rulings. Therefore, the police and other law enforcement institutions need to intensify legal outreach and public legal awareness education, particularly among conflict-prone indigenous communities, regarding disputes over territorial boundaries or customary land.
 
5. Publisher Organizing agency, location Faculty of Law, Universitas Pattimura
 
6. Contributor Sponsor(s)
 
7. Date (YYYY-MM-DD) 2025-12-31
 
8. Type Status & genre Peer-reviewed Article
 
8. Type Type
 
9. Format File format PDF
 
10. Identifier Uniform Resource Identifier https://fhukum.unpatti.ac.id/jurnal/sasi/article/view/3379
 
10. Identifier Digital Object Identifier 10.47268/sasi.v31i4.3379
 
11. Source Title; vol., no. (year) SASI; Volume 31 Issue 4, December 2025
 
12. Language English=en en
 
13. Relation Supp. Files
 
14. Coverage Geo-spatial location, chronological period, research sample (gender, age, etc.)
 
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