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Ambon Civil War (in English)
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AMBON: The Civil War
Feb 24, 1999


It was known as a spice island, that was what Ambon before January 19, 1999. Ambon and the surrounding islands were hit by a devastating civil war on January 19, 1999. Even though Ambon has been known as a Christian-pocket region in Indonesia, the Muslims in Ambon had been living in peace and harmony with the Christians. This peace and harmony of life were ended in an irreparable damaged on January 19, 1999. The Ambonese refused to call the incident a riot, rather they insisted on calling it as a civil war.

The war was started by a silly incident. It was a local domestic small incident, a fight or quarrel between a taxi driver and a Muslim Ambonese.
Sources indicated very strongly that the incident was used by provocateurs to start a massive destruction all over Ambon and even to the surrounding islands. This kind of pattern seems to be repeating from cases to cases, where a small local incident becomes a big and uncontrollable incident, that collapses the whole community. We could see the pattern in Ketapang, Kupang, Poso cases (the Poso case was not covered by Media, and yet the around Christmas of 1998 incidents in Central Sulawesi that hit towns of Poso, Palu and Palopo were very devastating as well). Sources even suggested very strongly that the provocateurs had been mobilized by Soeharto and his gang.

The Ambon case is very devastating, the first list of casualties is attached on exhibit 1. Since then people live in fear and terror in Ambon,
and small incidents took place here and there. Not until February 14, 1999, when another serious incident took place. Christians in Kariu of the
island of Haruku were attacked by people from Pelauw, Kailolo and Ori. People from those three places are mainly Muslims. According to
eyewitnesses and the investigation of the fact finding team of the Salawaku Team, the 14 February incident was even worse, for the following reasons:

1. Right before the attack, the post commando for the security force, which was to maintain peace, at the border of Pelauw and Kariu was relocated to some other place.
2. The Commando of the military post Yon 733, Mr. Safar Latuamuri, who is also from Pelauw took with him some other officers and the people from those villages and attacked the people in Kariu. Following are the list of the casualties from that attack:

No. NAME CAUSE STATUS
1. Yohanis Radjawane  Shot by officer  Death
2. Dominggus Tupalessy  Shot by officer  Death
3. Elly Pattinasarany  Burned inside house  Death
4. Dolly Takaria  Burned inside house  Death
5. Polly Nanlohi  Shot by officer Serious  Injury
6. Atja Pattiasina  Shot by officer Serious  Injury
7. Hengky Siahaya  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
8. Yohanis Noya  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
9. Izack Noya  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
10. Salakory  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
11. Yopy Kilanresy  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
12. Corinus Laisina  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
13. Agusthinus Siahaya  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
14. Lamberh Noya  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
15. Max Noya  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
16. Ruka Birahi  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
17. Bominngus Taihutu  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
18. Dominggus Noya  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
19. Dominggus Pattirajawane  Shot by officer Minor  Injury
20. Abraham Hahury  Shot with arrow Minor  Injury
21. Marthinus Metehelemual  Shot with arrow Minor  Injury
22. Hanny Lewerissa  Shot with arrow Minor  Injury
23. Karel Radjawane  Shot with arrow Minor  Injury
24. Dominggus Pattiasina  Bomb explosion Minor  Injury
25. Ronny Lalopua  Bomb explosion Minor  Injury
26. Jacob Pattiradjawane  Shot with arrow Minor  Injury
27. Johanis Pattiradjawane  Shot with arrow Minor  Injury
28. Rudy Wattimena  Shot with arrow Minor  Injury
29. Wellem Riry  Shot with arrow Minor  Injury
30. Izaack Nahusona  Shot with arrow Minor  Injury
31. Semuel Radjawane  Shot with arrow Minor  Injury


3. Houses, and even a church which was already under the protection of the peace keeping military force were allowed to be burnt to the ground.
4. The peace keeping military officers were also involved in the brutal shooting of the people from Hulaliu, who came over in rush to help the
injured in Kariu. Following is the list of the casualties from the Hulaliu village:

No. NAME  CAUSE  STATUS
1. Marthen Tahapary  Death  Death
2. Janes Leiwakabessy  Death  Death
3. Agus Noya  Death  Death
4. Frangky Tanate  Death  Death
5. Christian Noya  Shot by officer  Serious injury
6. Marthinus Taihutu  Shot by officer  Serious injury
7. Jacob Noya  Shot by officer  Serious injury
8. Chres Noya  Shot by officer  Serious injury
9. Jusuf Birahi  Shot by officer  Serious injury
10. Ronny Huka  Shot by officer  Serious injury
11. Donny Noya  Shot by officer  Serious injury
12. Duan Noya  Shot by officer  Serious injury
13. Stevy Noya  Shot by officer  Serious injury
14. Julius Kainama  Shot by officer  Serious injury
15. Jopie Laisina  Shot by officer  Serious injury
16. Elianus Siahaya  Shot by officer  Minor Injury
17. Bram Noya  Shot by officer  Minor Injury
18. Thopilus Noya  Shot by officer  Minor Injury
19. Simon Werinussa  Shot by officer  Minor Injury


On February 21 and 22, 1999, Monday and Tuesday, in the island of Saparua, the people from Siri Sori Islam and the people from Siri Sori Serani (Chrisian) broke into a fight; so did the people from Iha (Muslim) and Nolloth (Christian). There were 3 death in Nolloth and 1 person whose arm had to be amputated from the shot by an officer.

Meanwhile, On Tuesday, February 22, 1999, in the city of Ambon, riot broke up again. Bomb was set at Batu Merah Dalam. Houses belongs to Christians were set on fire. The security officer did not do anything when people started to attack the Christians. So far there were 6 people shot to death by the security officers, and three of them were shot by the security officers while they were inside the gate of the Bethabara Church in Batu Merah Dalam. Christians in Batu Merah Dalam have to escape for refuge.

Despite of the headlines in the media - Christians slaughter Muslim in Ambon - the opposite seems to be true. However, the more sickening and concerning issue has been the behavior of the military officer. They were not only not doing anything, they would actually be the ones who involved in the attack and the shooting. This kind of behavior and performance by the military is not only unacceptable, but also has once again proven the loss of control and authority in the military unit as a whole, even from the top commando of Gen. Wiranto.

According to eyewitnesses, one of the officer who was involved in the shooting in Batu Merah Dalam was a police officer Mr. Cahyana.

Following is the list of casualties in Ambon on February 23-24, 1999.

No. NAME  CAUSE  STATUS
1. Jacob de Lima  Shot by officer  Death
2. Rudy Hehatubun  Shot by officer  Death
3. E., Telussa  Shot by officer  Death
4. Marthin Manukelle  Shot by officer  Death
5. Anthon Lopulalan  Shot by officer  Death
6. F., Hitipeuw  Shot by officer  Death


Persecutions against Christians, which were done in a very subtle way during the Soeharto era, have turned into more blatant and vicious ways
during the Habibie era, the Indonesian government in transition. According to the report of the ICCF (Indonesian Christian Communication
Forum) there were 455 churches attacked and burned during the Soeharto era, and there have been minimum of 95 churches attacked and burned during the Habibie era, which is only less than a year. The force of fundamentalism which has been riding its way behind Habibie, starting from the formation of ICMI (The Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals) in the early 1990s, has been showing its vicious teeth
since the May-Riot of 1998. Despite of the clear pattern of similarities among the incidents, even since the June9, 1996 Surabaya case, and
then followed by the October 10, 1996 Situbondo case, the government and the military have not been able to bring a total and absolute
justice to the citizens of Indonesia, by identifying and prosecuting the masterminds behind all of these incidents. The lack of
will and capability from the government and the military has resulted in the weakening of their authority domestically and internationally, which
should be expected when a government is not serving the people whom they are supposed to serve.

Report prepared by:
Hengky Hattu - Yayasan Sala Waku Maluku
Kie-eng Go - Texas-USA



Exhibit 1.
The list of casualties from the Ambon case, January 15-28, 1999.
1. The Nehemiah Church, Bethaba Congregation (Maluku Protestant Church) in Batu Merah Village was plundered, destroyed. The interior of the church was burned (60% destroyed).
2. The Source of Love Church , Silo Congregation (Maluku Protestant Church) in Silale-Waihaong Village was burned to the ground (100% destroyed).
3. The Bethlehem Church on Anthony Rhibok Street was stoned. (20% destroyed).
4. The Tua Hila Church in Hila Christian Village (the oldest church in Ambon) was burned (100% destroyed).
5. The Petra Protestant Church, Petra Congregation (Maluku Protestant Church) in Benteng Karang Ambon Village was burned (100% destroyed).
6. The Logos Catholic Church in Benteng Karang Village was burned (100% destroyed).
7. The Assembly of God Church in Benteng Karang Village was burned (100% destroyed).
8. The Maranatha Chruch in Negri Lama Village was burned (100% destroyed).
9. The Hanwele Church at Nania Village was burned (100% destroyed).
10. The Maluku Protestant Church (GPM) in Paporu-Piru Village, West Seram was burned (100% destroyed).
11. A Catholic Church in Paporu-Piru Village, West Seram was burned (100% destroyed).
12. The Assembly of God Church (GSJA) in Paporu-Piru Village, West Seram was burned (100% destroyed).
13. The Protestant Church, Sanana Congregation (GPM) in Sanana Village was burned (100% destroyed).
14. The Catholic Church, Sanana Congregation (GPM) in Sanana Village was burned (100% destroyed).
15. The Indonesian Bethel Church, Sanana Congregation in Sanana Village was burned (100% destroyed)

The list of the parish houses and schools which were damaged and burned
down by the mob during the riots in Ambon on 15 through 28 January 1999:
1. The home of a GPM's pastor at Congregation/Hila Village (burned).
2. The home of a GPM's pastor at Congregation/Benteng Karang Village (burned).
3. The home of a GPM's pastor at Congregation/Nania Village (burned).
4. The home of a GPM's pastor at Congregation/Negeri Lama Village (burned).
5. The home of a GPM's pastor at Sanana's Congregation (burned).
6. The parishes house (the home of RK's pastor) at Sanana's Congregation (burned).
7. A Catholic School at Sanana (burned).

The list of Mosques that were damaged and/or burned down by the mob during
the riots in Ambon on 15 through 28 January 1999:
1. The Al Huda Mosque at Upper Diponegoro Street was burned (12% destroyed).
2. The As Sa'adah Pule Mosque at Karang Panjang Street was totally burned down.
3. The Al Ikhlas Mosque at Raya Pattimura Street inside the Pos Alley was damaged (20% destroyed).
4. The Al Ikhwan Mosque at Mardika Market was totally burned down.
5. The An-Nur Mosque at Sangaji Street was damaged by the mob (20% destroyed).
6. The At-Taqwa Mosque in the Village of Batu Gajah/Batu Bulan was burned (60% destroyed).
7. The Al Ikhlas Mosque at Jati's Complex Batu Gong was damaged (50% destroyed).
8. The Kati Complex mosque at Batu Gong was damaged (20% destroyed).
9. The Wisma Atlit Complex mosque at Karang Panjang was damaged (20% destroyed).
10. The mosque at corperation regional office was damaged (20% destroyed).
11. The Al Mukhlisin mosque at Karang Baringin-Batu Gantung damaged (40% destroyed).
12. The Al Mukharam mosque at Karang Tagepe was damaged (45% destroyed).
13. The Transmigration regional office's mosque was damaged (20% destroyed).
14. The Kopertis Ahuru Complex mosque at Ahuru village was damaged (20% destroyed).
15. The TVRI Complex mosque at Gunung Nona was damaged by (40% destroyed).
16. The Nurul Hijrah Nania mosque at Nania village was burned (50% destroyed).
17. The Labuhan Batu mosque at Labuhan Batu village was damaged (40% destroyed).
18. The Al Muhajirin mosque at Paso village was burned (60% destroyed).
19. The Jamiatul Islamiah mosque at Galala village was burned (50% destroyed).
20. The Wailete mosque at Hative Besar village was burned (65% destroyed).
21. The Prayer room in the complex of SMUN 7 Wailete at Hative Besar village was damaged (60% destroyed).
22. The Galala prayer room at Galala village was burned (50% destroyed).
23. The Nurul Haq prayer room at Dobo village at Maluku Tenggara was damaged (20% destroyed).

Data about the schools that were damaged and/or burned down at the
disturbances in Ambon, January 15-28, 1999.
1. The Al-Hilal primary school at Anthony Ribhaok street was burned (100% destroyed).
2. The public high school of Muhammadiyah Tanah Lapang Kecil (Talake) was damaged (40% destroyed).

Data prepared by The ICCF.

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