Atrocities Happen Again in Maluku (in English)

Atrocities Happen Again in Maluku

For about two months many atrocities occured in Maluku: on January 14 and 15, 1999 in Dobo, Southeast Maluku; on January 19, 1999, and next in Ambon island, Sanana (North Maluku), and Manipa island, Seram island, Lease archipelago (Haruku, Saparua, and Nusalaut), Banda (Central Maluku), Saumlaki (Southeast Maluku). These atrocities have become less frequent after the large incidents that occurred on Benteng Atas, Pohon Puleh, Air Mata Cina, Urimeseg and Tantui on March 10–13, 1999.

The lessening of the frequency of the atrocities is being seen by many to be a result of surrendering many thousands of weapons to security officers. These weapons included parang swords, javelins, bows, arrows, slings, and homemade bombs. The fewer atrocities is also seen to have resulted from other activities geared toward making peace.

But, tragically, the lessening number of atrocities in Ambon Island and its surrounding area has not been followed by a lessening of the provocators' actions which, until now, are still working to provoke people with false issues and destroy the whole social order in this "thousand island" region.

This fact was proven again when, on Wednesday, March 31, 1999, a large atrocity occurred in the city of Tual, Southeast Maluku. According to the latest information (Tuesday, April 6, 1999), it has spread even to Kei Besar (out of the city of Tual - Kei Kecil). The latest conditions have prevented us from investigating or gathering complete data about the atrocity and its results.

However, based on reports of observers, we can provide the following:

1. The atrocities in the city of Tual (Southeast Maluku) cannot be separated from the atrocities in other places in Maluku which, as usual, are said to be based on racial (SARA) conflict.

2. The atrocities that led Muslim and Christian citizens to fight each other have been followed by several acts of kidnapping and murder. This is shown by what had happened to the victims FRITS PATTIANAKOTTA and ELISA TOISUTA on Sunday, April 4, in front of an ABC Store on Jalan Mayor Abdullah, Tual. At that time, FRITS and ELISA were about to send off the FRITS family who were to board the KM Bukit Siguntang [Editor: a ship] for passage to Ambon. But, although they were in the front of the security enforcers, Frits was kidnapped and then savagely killed. It was reported that the victim’s family (his wife and children) are still, at this time, in the hands of kidnappers. The same fate also fell on FRANSISCUS RUMANGUN when he got off the KM Bukit Siguntang; he was immediately slaughtered there, and then was taken in critical condition to Rumah Sakit Hati Kudus Langgur (Sacred Heart Hospital, Langur), where he later died.

3. On the atrocities that happen on Saturday, April 3, 1999, a priest from BETHANI Church in Tual, BUCE HEHANUSA, together with his child (or children) and two of his servants, were also murdered, along with other victims who were either murdered or injured. Hundreds of civilian homes and government and business buildings were burned down.

4. The atrocities in the city of Tual, such as those that occurred on Sunday, April 4, quickly spread to outlying regions. Another incident occured that resulted in many houses in Desa/Village Debut (in the southern part of Tual) being burned. Also, in ELAT (in the municipal of Kei Besar) there was a attack from people of Desa Wartahait on the people of Desa ELAT that caused two deaths and two houses being burned. Morever, in Desa Larat (Kei Besar municipality), the village of the Administrator of Southeast Maluku (Bupati Kepala Daerah Tingkat II Maluku Tenggara), a large incident occured that caused almost all the houses in that village to be burned down completely, and tens of people were killed or injured. Even until Monday morning, April 5, the people of Desa Larat (Kei Besar), could still find corpses of people burned in this atrocity on the piles of what was left of the houses. The corpses were burned too badly to be identifiable.

5. It was reported that the security forces who were to "secure" the atrocities were taking sides and shot certain groups of people, which caused additional deaths and injuries because of the gunshots.

6. The number of refugees being sheltered in refugee camps are estimated to be around 25,000 people; this is excluding those who fled Tual for Ambon, Sulawesi, or Java island out of fear for their safety in Tual and its vicinity. Hundreds of civilian homes and other public facilities were burned down; the number of fatalities is around 60 people and hundreds of people were injured.

7. It is feared that the refugees will die from starvation. Even though the rice supply for Tual and its surrounding was guaranteed to be available for some months, it was reported that the Dolog supply storage house in the city of Tual is now in the hands of one particular group, which is among the groups that are fighting. The group has decided to burn down the Dolog supply storage.

8. It was predicted that the atrocities in Tual would spread to surrounding areas, and that the security forces would not take a firm action and would, in fact, take sides with one group; this is now happening. All the more, according to the eye witness reports, there was a mass mobilization of people from the surrounding islands to form a march to Tual.

The atrocities in Tual have now continued for six days, and its citizens are still in an anxious and fearful state.