Long seen as a religious conflict, now may be the time to take a fresh look at the fighting between Muslims and Christians in far-off Maluku. At the very least at how the conflict started three years ago, and why it has been so difficult to it bring to and end after thousands from both sides have been killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes.

Last week, Berty Loupatty, leader of the Coker (Cool Dudes) gang, a Christian mob in