|
THE RECENT UNREST IN AMBON ISLAND AND IT’S SUROUNDINGS
Rev. Jacky Manuputty
CHRONOLOGIES
1. TUESDAY, 19 January 1999
 | At 15.00pm. The villagers of Batu Merah dalam (Christian) was attacked by the villagers
of Batu Merah (Moslem). They launched an attack for the second time at 19.25 PM to the
same village and neighbor village Mardika (mostly Christian). |
Burnt down and destroyed :
- 3 cars
- 10 motorcycles
- 4 houses
- 1 church (Nehemia Church).
| At 17.45 PM, the people of Waihaong and Soabali 2 km from Batu Merah made an attack on
Christians of the same village. Reported :
- 15 cars and 20 motorcycles were burnt down
- 1 church (Sinar Kasih Church) |
At the same time, in other place, the Moslems thrown at with stones the
Protestant Bethlehem Church (window glass broken) – 1,5 km from Batu Merah.
| At 20.00, the Moslem approximately 40 people passed through the Kayu Buah alley to
attack Silo Church ( 0.5 km from Waihaong ), but they was chased away by young Christians. |
2. WEDNESDAY, 20 January 1999
| At 03.00 am there was a skirmish between Christians and Moslems at Mardika square (in
front of the governor office) – 30 meters from of town. In this action, the Moslems
wanted to burn Maranatha Church (center church of Moluccas province), which located near
the Mardika square but the Christian who guarded the church, succeed to chased them away. |
| At 08.00 am, the villagers of Wakal and Hila (Moslems), while yelling : " Allahu
Akbar…..Allahu Akbar " attacked Hila villagers. They throwing the houses with
stones and burning the oldest church in Moluccas province and constitutes one of the
tourist resort in this island. |
| At 09.30 am, the villages of ; Hitu, Mamala, Morela, and Wakal heavily armed with
weapons ; sword, samurai, arrows, bombs, etc – some of them using shield for combat
– attacking the villagers at Telaga Kodok, mostly Christian (about 5 km from
Hitu,Mamala, dan Morela). They burning down the houses by using bombs, destroying a
Catholic Church and 3 Protestant Churches. |
| At 10.00 am, the village of Wakal, Hila, Mamala and Morela (Moslems) were about 3000
people, lead by a police officer attacked the Benteng Karang villagers (not far from
Telaga Kodok). In this action they tortured a pregnant woman (six month pregnancy), they
sliced her stomach, took the baby out and chopped it to pieces. 60 people were butchered,
the houses were burnt down, including 4 Churches. |
| At 12.30 the same village of Wakal, Hila, Mamala and Morela, attack Hunuth/Durian Patah
villagers ( 2 Km from Benteng Karang ). Until 13.00 PM they had killed 2 villagers and 65
Christians house were destroyed and burnt down. |
| At 13.00 They march passed through 3 Army Stations 733 : A Battalion, B Battalion and
Added Battalion to Nania ( 2,3 Km from Hunuth/Durian Patah). In Nania two villagers were
killed including Protestan Ministry, Rev.P. Thysen while praying in the church. |
3. THURSDAY , 21 January 1999
| At 07.21 am, the Moslems at Jalan Baru (0,5 Km from center of town) were intruding the
Christians neighbor them with stones. |
| At 17.00 PM – 20.00 PM, the villagers once again try to burn the house of Manuel
Family by using fired arrows. Mean while, on the other place at 18.00 PM the villagers
house (Christian) at Wakal were thrown at with stones by the Moslems. |
| At 20.00 PM the Moslem kept on trying to burn Silo church. At this time they used a fire
stove and throwing it against the church, yet can be stopped by Christians. Ironically,
Wirabuana Kostrad (Armed Forces) as many as three trucks which has arrived at Trikora
monument make no prevention on the action. The Army just watched the incident and lived
the location. |
4. FRIDAY , 22 January 1999
| At 10.00 am simultaneously the Moslems from Soabali and Jalan Baru tried to attack the
mainly Christian villagers at Air Mata Cina, Pohon Puleh and to Silo church. At the same
time there was skirmish at Wayame (25 Km. From the center of Town) and Ahuru (3 Km.From
the center of Town). A lot of house were burn down. On the other places, the Moslems at
Ponogoro (0.8 Km. From the center of Town) (kuburan tinggi) attacked the villagers at
Mangga Dua by throwing the actually, there had been a peace agreement among them. |
| At 15.00 PM – 15.15 PM Again the Moslems from Soabali and Jalan Baru tried to
attack, yet been prevented by the Army who made a warning to an open air. |
5. SATURDAY, 23 January 1999
| At 11.00 am – 11.30 PM. There was effort from Ponogoro (Moslems) to attack Mangga
Dua villagers. When the action took place there came along government officials escorted
by the military officers. Several military officers shot to an open air as a warning, yet
there was an officer aimed his gun to the people and shot a young women, she was killed by
bullet on her breast. |
| At 14.00 PM At Gudang Arang there was a quarrel between the army and the people. In this
incident 7 young man wounded and 1 military killed. |
6. SUNDAY, 24 January 1999
| Approximately at 02.00 am, incoming information, informed a quarrel between 2 villagers,
Liang (Moslem) – 30 km from the center of town – and Waai (Christian)- 30 km
from Liang village, but they were expelled by the security officers. |
| Member of Military Police,Sergeant Major Ismail who trespass a house in Batu Gantung
(Ganemo village) – 1.5 km from center of Town – and attacked Mr.Ulis Lainata
without any reason and rise the anger of the people of the neighborhood (according to the
neighborhood association/RT 002.Mr.Tabaleko’s Report). |
| The Armed Forces of 731 Battalion assigned at Silo Church confiscate two knifes carried
by a Christian youngster in a small pickup. They were inspect and hit by the officers that
lead to mistreating. |
7. MONDAY , 25 January 1999
| At 09.15 am. Mrs.Latul who were shopping at the Mardika market (in front of Rijali
health district) were threatened with a knife by a big group of people; they said to her
" You have killed some of us, and now it is our turn to kill, the stalls no longer
ours, and then you came here to do shopping at ours. |
| Since the incident occurred in 19-25 January 1999, the Moslems
immediately proceeded necessary protection to Christian community to prevent them from any
possible further violence, before being secured to evacuation places by the security
guard, as what the Christian did also to the Moslem families.
|
8. TUESDAY, 2 February 1999
Two young Moslem fought in Pasar Mardika (so called of one traditional
market in Ambon). People around the fighting location got panic that eventually widespread
and influenced the people around the city. They then gathered armed by knives. This
strained situation continued when the Facts Researcher Team from Indonesian National
Commission on Human Rights arrived in Ambon. The delegation were blocked by the armed
people when they tried to observe the location in Batu Merah Dalam
9. WEDNESDAY, 3 February 1999
The riot broke out in Kairatu, Seram island, began when two man from
different religion fought. This shortly then changed to be a mass riots. Christian people
burnt the markets and the residence of Moslem groups. This then continued on the day after
(4 February) when the Christian (from Kamarian village, a few kilometers away from
Kairatu) attacked Waralohi village as the ethnic group of Buton (Moslem) residential
place.
Day after day became so strained in Ambon, caused either by the issue
widespread that the Christian villages would be attacked, the repressive action from the
army (especially from the powerful special force in Indonesian Army named Kostrad and
particular units from the Police that arbitrarily arrested, shot, beaten and tortured
Christian people – see appendix 1 dated 6-12 February 1999)
10. SATURDAY, 13 February 1999
Governor of Maluku met the leaders as the representative of religion,
community and youth groups to obtain any permanent peaceful solution of the ongoing
conflicts. Then approved that the local governmental board (Muspida) and the religion
leaders should pay a sort of reconciliation visit to all residences/villages of Christian
and Moslem groups. To facilitate the program, a technical team established to organize the
schedule of the visit with 6 members, each 2 person represented Moslem, Christian and
Catholic groups.
11. SUNDAY, 14 February 1999
Around 4000 Moslem people from Pelauw, Kailolo, Kabau, Rohomoni and Ori
villages attacked the neighbor Christian village, Kariau, in Haruku island. Tens were
killed and injured, 2 churches and all the houses burnt (see appendix 1 dated 14 February
1999). It can be said that the name of Kariuw village almost vanished from the map. The
only thing remained is the church tower standing without its bell. It was considered as an
unexpected incident because the villages of Christian and Moslem around Kariuw have an
agreement not to attack each other. However, this sudden attack already shattered the
agreement. Since 19-23 February 1999, there were various kind of violations done by the
army along with the Moslem people towards Christian group (See appendix 1 dated 19-23
February at 10.15 local time)
12. TUESDAY, 23 February – THURSDAY, 25 February 1999
Moslem mass from Batu Merah Bawah and Galunggung attacked Christian
people in Batu Merah Dalam. This horrifying action suppressed the Christian people that
trapped in a valley as the aggressors were backed up by the army. Any assistance effort
and food were stopped and blocked and for those who tried to escape and rescue shot by the
arm guard. Even some people and the priests who hid in the church building not free from
the gunshot of the guard. (See the appendix 1 dated 23-25 February - the list of victims
were arrested and shot by the army). The situation got calm before midnight.
In Saparua island, the people in Noloth village (Christian) clashed
with the people from the Iha village (Moslem). It resulted several victims by the arrow
and gunshot of the army. (See appendix 1 dated 23 February) Around 20 kilometers away,
Moslem people from Tulehu and Liang villages attacked Christian village, Waai. Three
victims from Waai village, while the people from Liang and Tulehu village kept the number
of victim from their villagers secretly. Around tens people were killed and injured either
stabbed by the swords, exploding bomb or shot by the arm guard. Tens houses were damaged
and burnt.
13. FRIDAY, 26 February 1999
The aggression to Christian people were continued in Batu Merah Dalam.
Every effort and initiative to escape from the killing field always prevented and blocked
by the arm guard, while the assistance given by the Christian community from other
villages also forbidden and stopped (See appendix 1 dated 26 February). There were about
40-50 people successfully escaped from the siege and went to Communication Center post
(Maranatha). Then they initially proceeded the demonstration to the Army Station to
protest the discriminative action and attitude shown by the arm force. They were further
joint by other Christian people on the way to the station that the number of the
participants became 1000 people. The Military Regional Commander accepted them to have a
dialogue. After that, the demonstrates went to the Police Station with more participants.
That was the first demonstration held by the Christian group to protest the discriminative
attitude of the arm guard and police.
14. WEDNESDAY, 1-3 March 1999
Moslem people from Galunggung village and surrounding area attacked
Christian people in Rinjani village, Karang Panjang. Several people were injured by the
sword, while tens of houses burnt when the attacked suppressed people back to attack the
aggressor. The arm guard who tried to stop the riots by warning shot, finally had to
release the flat shooting when the people just ignored the warning. Some victims fell from
Moslem side by the gun shot of the army, as well as from Christian people who re-attack in
the riots. This incident was reported by The Head of Religious Affairs of Maluku Province
to the Minister of Religious Affairs and further to the President, that Moslem community
who were performing their dawn prayer in the mosque shot by the army. This incorrect
information spread out by the publication of the mass media, unexpectedly has influenced
the initiators of Jihad (Holy War in Islam) to gather and mobilize the religious sentiment
among the youth Moslem groups and Moslem students in many cities in all over Indonesia.
The call of Jihad then changed to be a wave of anti-Christian, especially in Jakarta,
Yogyakarta, Solo, Surabaya, Bandung and Ujungpandang. As the result, 2 churches in Bandung
were destroyed by the mass riot (7 March 1999). In Ujungpandang, Christian people had been
terrorized, meanwhile, students in Hasanudin University held the demonstration while
throwing the stones to the church buildings, Christian universities and Student Center of
Indonesian Student Christian Movement in Ujungpandang branch. Various threat and terror
conveyed to Christian people also happened in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Salatiga
(particularly in Christian University of Satya Wacana). The strange thing is, the threat
and call of Jihad still continued although the mass media has released the correction of
the wrong news about the shooting in the mosque. (See appendix 1 dated 1 March 18, 1999
– the incident of Petra church in Ahuru). Another violence towards the Christian also
occurred during 1-3 March 1999 (See appendix 1 dated 1 March 1999, the incident in front
of Al-Fatah Mosque, Pohon Puleh bridge and near the Silo church)
15. THURSDAY, 5-6 March 1999
Following violence again happened on 5 March and victimized Christian
community that slaughtered, stabbed by the sword and the many effort to forcedly vanish
the Christian people. (See appendix 1 dated 5 and 6 March 1999). At the dawn time in March
6 1999, there were several bombs exploded in Silo church that invited Christian people to
move again on the streets around the church. One car filled by the several
non-uniform-dressed of army which happened passing the street forcedly stopped to be
examined. Suddenly, the army got off the car and started to shoot the people (see appendix
1 dated 6 March 1999 – the incident in Silo church). The gun was also aimed to the
church Silo building. This was the third shooting by the army from special force in
Indonesian Army named Kostrad and police directed to the church building.
16. SUNDAY, 7 March 1999
Numbers of violent actions again occurred all day long. At around 23.30
PM, the aggression towards the Christian happened in Benteng Atas, commenced by the scream
of Allahuakbar. With the reason to avoid any clash, the Christian people who put
their position to front the aggressors, were forcedly commanded to back up by the army by
opening fire aimed to the air. However the attackers who gathered and moved behind the arm
guard used this moment to burn the houses which left by the Christian people. Then,
additional troops came from Marine and Brimob units and tried to break up the mass who
burnt the houses by releasing the shooting to the air. It effectively dispersed the crowd
and ran to the mountain and forest.
17. MONDAY, 8 March 1999
The incident in March 7 extended by the attack and burning of the
houses by the two parties. It was very strained around the area. In Passo village, 20
kilometers away from Benteng Atas, one sniper driving a car passed shooting the community
(See appendix 1 dated March 8 – the incident of Haji/Moslem Hostel, Air Salobar). The
people was burnt by the anger and destroyed the suspected cars. Meanwhile, from Christian
Communication Center spread an information that the call of Jihad already ordered to all
Moslem in Ambon. Obviously this information made them acted more aggressively and various
violence broke out in the city.
18. TUESDAY, 9 March 1999
The Minister of Transmigration and Forestry paid visit to Ambon and
held the dialogue with the representative of religions, youth, NGO, students, local
governmental board of Maluku province and county of Ambon level. There were two main
agenda of the meeting : fristly to socialize the transmigration program for the victims of
the Amber and secondly, to give a general description of the Ambon incident. According to
the Minister, that the mastermind and provocateur of this particular incident is the RMS
(movement of independence state in Maluku named Republic of South Maluku). This opinion
did not accepted by the participants, particularly by the representatives of youth
organization and students, as there was no evidence considered in reference with this and
can possibly give an obstacle and influence the effort of finding solutions to end up the
riots. They as the alternative, urged the Minister to see and observe the location and to
think over the program of transmigration as this program regarded will not give any
empowerment, but will increase the poverty to the indigenous people instead. It can be
presumed that this dialogue will not give any benefit to the people in Maluku. In the
afternoon, Moslem people felt a tense situation in Diponegoro Dalam and they burnt some
houses left by the Christian people
19. WEDNESDAY, 10 March – THURSDAY, 11 March 1999
Since March 10, a sporadic aggression extended by the Moslem people and
the army toward the Christian community in 3 different locations ( See appendix 1 dated 10
March – the victims killed and injured by the gunshot of the army in Benteng Atas,
Air Mata Cina and Urimessing). In the evening, an old man named Jacob
Somnaikubun slaughtered in his own house, in Kebun Cengkeh area, and killed with his head
almost separated from his body.
20. SUNDAY, 14 March 1999
The marine troops (Navy) who tried to pacify the area around Silo
church and Al-Fatah mosque asked the community and religion leaders to hold a peaceful
meeting. This positively welcome and therefore, at 21.30 – 23.00 an ensemble meeting
settled and the following agreement determined during the meeting:
- To rebuild and recreate the closeness and togetherness among the two side that preceded
by the feeling of regret from all people
- To prevent any outsider who try to enter their secured place of each group.
- To strip all people of their weapons and sword on Tuesday, March 16 1999
- To build a post together with Marine units located behind the Silo church building,
right behind the burnt place (Jalan Baru)
|
