Church and Human Rights Persecution in Indonesia

Ambon, March 11, 1999 (in English)

Ambon (March 11)

Translated by: Hendry Rijanto

Sala Waku

Ambon’s situation since Tuesday is very frightful. From then until Thursday morning, March 11, 1999 there were attacks and burnings at several locations in Ambon City, such as Benteng Atas, Diponegoro, Air Mata Cina, Urimesing and Tantui. Meanwhile, around Batu Merah and Mardika there were clashes between the Moslems & Christians.

The Molotov bombs and sharp weapons which were used during the attacks caused many casualties and several houses were burned down.

Data gathered from several locations shows the following:

I. Christians’ side

A. Dead

No.	Victim’s Name	Location	Comment
1	Marlin Latuheru	Benteng Atas	Cut
2	Unu Ratuanik	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
3	Robby Bongsaya	Silale (refugee from PGSD)	Shot by Police
4	Johny Sahupala	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
5	Joseph Yotuhun	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
6	Jerry Siregar	Pohon Puleh	Shot by Police
7	Ece Nanlohy	Urimesing	Shot by Police
8	Helaha	PGSD (refugee)	Shot by Police
9	Pono Patsira	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police

B. Injured

No.	Victim’s Name	Location	Comment
1	Zeth Holle	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
2	Jemmy Patipeilohy	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
3	Anthony Luhukay	Urimesing	Shot by Police
4	Yongky Maruanaya	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
5	Kenaldy Kakisina	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
6	Wellem Apitu	Air Mata Cina	Shot by Police
7	Rudy Pattiasina	Air Mata Cina	Shot by Police
8	Joseph Noya	Air Mata Cina	Shot by Police
9	Elias Van Harling	Air Mata Cina	Shot by Police
10	A. Wattimury	Air Mata Cina	Bomb Explosion
11	Karel Akywen	Urimesing	Shot by Police
12	Eddy Aburua	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
13	Frans Baker	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
14	Nehemia Raitelu	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
15	Wellem Latuheru	Air Mata Cina	Shot by Police
16	Marno Lambiombir	Benteng Atas	Shot with an arrow
17	Roy Loupatty	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
18	Ricky Luhukay	Air Mata Cina	Shot by Police
19	Tommy Haumase	Air Salobar	Shot by Police
20	Broery Marantika	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
21	Nus Nahumury	Benteng Atas	Shot by Police
22	Manix Mahulete	Air Mata Cina	Shot by Police
23	Wellem Matahurilla	Urimesing	Shot by Police
24	Geraldo Manusiwa	Air Mata Cina	Shot by Police

C. Burned Houses

As of now, based on the information from Benteng Atas, there were about 30 Moslems and Christians whose houses were burned and one hotel belonging to a Christian that was burned in Tantui. In Air Mata Cina, a primary school building was bombed and burned.

We have had difficulties in gathering news on Moslems, but it is estimated that there were a number of casualties, based on the chronology of events including weapons firings which happened around Soabali.

Posko MUI reported that, in this event, 6 Moslems were injured by arrows, 7 were injured by grenades and one marine was lightly injured. Names are not mentioned.

The Role of Law Enforcement in the Incident

From the information received from the site of the incident, law enforcement, particularly the Marines 731 Kabaresi and the Strategic Army Commandos from the main island (Java), handled the situation well. However, the Strategic Army Commandos from Ujung Pandang and the police force at Maluku were prejudiced. The officers shot in a berserk manner at the people who were attacked, and they even let the rioters burn the civilians’ houses and government buildings. From the incident site at Tanah Lapang Kecil, as reported on March 10, 1999, there were shots fired by the military aimed at the civilians or shots fired from behind residential houses and trees which eventually allowed the rioters to burn the civilians’ houses.

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	Prepared by Fica-Net, http://www.fica.org, Last updated: 04/09/99 Please address any comment to webmaster@fica.org

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