Salam Sejahtera, Berikut Redaksi sampaikan english version dari STUDI KRITIS TERHADAP TRAGEDI KERUSUHAN BERDARAH di AMBON. Selamat membaca. Salam dan Doa, Redaksi Eskol-Net ================ A Critical Study of the Bloody Ambon Tragedy (Unrest) ---------------- Introduction ---------------- For almost ten months the unrest in Ambon has continued unabated. This certainly raises some big questions, such as why the conflict (between Moslems and Christians) which costed so many lives and so much property, is allowed to continue? The culprits of the riots have not been apprehended. In some cases members of the security personnel (soldiers) have actually taken sides in the attacks (upon the Christians). Many lives were lost in the community which they are supposed to protect at the hands of certain members of the security forces. A number of officials in the bureaucracy have been indicated as being directly involved in the riots. Already the conflict is so complicated, but the situation has been aggravated even more by the arrival of sectarian groups from within and outside the Moluccas which escalated the conflict between both parties. The Ambon tragedy seems to be some kind of "project", a political play by a certain elite group. The conscience of these people is not! functioning any longer. They are not even afraid of God. If the previous government had closed their eyes to this humanitarian problem, the present government is supposed to settle it in a just and fair manner, both in Ambon and in other areas. Some Facts About the Ambon Tragedy ---------------------------------- Based on a critical study of the bloody tragedy of Ambon (Central and Southeastern Moluccas) and surrounding islands (hereinafter to be included under the name of Ambon), it has been discovered that the riots had actually been planned and organized systematically by "invisible hands" by manipulation of religious sentiments. This conclusion was drawn based on the following: 1. The riots in Ambon took place in several areas at the same time or if not simultanously, they happened only a few hours apart. 2. Each riot used a pattern of involving the simultaneous movement of masses numbering not less than 500 people each. 3. A great number of people involved in each place were transported by motorcars on land and by motorboats at sea. 4. The masses used knives (and other sharp objects as weapons), arrows, spears as well as makeshift guns and in several places even used automatic weapons with military standard issue of bullets. 5. A great number of the riots took place following a similar pattern namely destruction, burning, looting and killing. 6. The Ambon riots not only involved civilians, but also security personnel (soldiers), members of the bureacracy as well as community leaders. The Riots in Ambon: A critical study of the Ambon riots revealed the following outline: PHASE - TIME PERIOD ACTION RESOURCES Prior to Jan.'99 Meeting of Moslem political groups and mass organizations at Al-Fatah Mosque under leadership of Abdullah Soulissa (Chairman of Al-Fatah Foundation), where the following decisions were made: FKKM Yogyakarta (Central Java) - Most leaders occupied strategic positions within the local government - Establishment of the "Posko" (Pos Komando) or "Reporting Station" for Handling of the Bloody Idulfitri Affair. (NU and PKB Moslem organizations disagreed and left the meeting, then called Gus Dur - now President - by telephone to report what happened.) Joint Letter (of Protest) of Church Leaders in Maluku (C-24) - Speech by M. Nour Tawainela to HMI (Moslem University Students Union) university students in 1994, which basically outlined the goal of Islamizing Ambon. 6 Jan.'99 Establishment of the Legal and Advocacy Department to (Committee for) Handling of the Bloody Idulfitri Affair Joint Letter (of Protest) of Church Leaders in Maluku (C-24) 14-17 Jan.'99 Riot in Dobo (Southeast Moluccas) triggered off chain of riots FKKI (Christian Communication Forum of Indonesia) (from various sources) 19 Jan.'99 Ambon Riots started at 15.00-17.30 hours local time. The extortion of Joppy Leuhery (minibus driver) by Nursalim bin Kadir (local thug) started off riots. FKKI (from various sources) Attack against Christians by Moslems of Batu Merah area (Ambon city) and burning of houses of Christians at the Batu Merah-Mardika junction, at Silale, Waihaong, Soabali and Jalan Baru. 19 Jan.'99 (18.00 hours onwards) Preparations for physical conflict: - Masses were formed on bothsides of conflict (Batu Merah Area) - Rumors spreading that churches and (a) mosque had been burned down. "Tekad" (weekly) Tabloid, No. 13/Ist Year 25-31 Jan.'99 - Security personnel always arrive too late to prevent and stop unrest - Accusations in mass media, raising the RMS (Republik Maluku Selatan) and Christian separatism issues, so-called jealousy of Christians toward the wealthier Buginese, Butonese and Makassarese (BBM) ethnic groups (migrant settlers), "moslem cleansing", etc., which were totally baseless. - Tekad Tabloid, No. 13/Ist Year, 25-31 Jan. '99; Media Dakwah Muharram 1420 / May '99 (in Haruku, Kariu and Wainital, Saparua, Nusalaut), Banda island - 25 Jan. '99 20 Jan.'99 - Spreading of conflict to various other locations in Ambon city, Sanana (Northern Moluccas), Manipa island, Seram island, Lease Neira islands (Central Moluccas), Saumlaki, Tanimbar, Kei islands (Southeast Moluccas). FKKI, YSWM, FKKM Yogyakarta (from various sources) - Moslems provoke security personnel to take repressive action against Christians and attacked under the protection of security personnel (Gudangarang riots, 23/1/99; OSM-Mardika Street, 28/1/99). FKKM Yogyakarta, TPG-11 FKKI, YSWM - Moslems use government vehicles to transport masses and (sharp object) weapons, and kidnap people. FKKI - from various sources - Major Gen. Suaidy Marassabessy (a Moslem leader) was seen at Kailolo several days before Kariu village (on Haruku island) was torched. - Five Christian traditional communities were burned down (Hila, 201/99; Kariu, 14/2/99; Negeri Lama, 20/1/99; Waiheru; Hunuth, 20/1/99). No Moslem traditional communities were destroyed. FKKI - from various sources Prior to Phase II Of Unrest (Mid-March to April) - Violence moved over from Central Moluccas to Southeast Moluccas (Kei islands, 25/4/99; Saumlaki, Tanimbar). FKKI (from varous sources) - No apparent effort from government to stop the violence and failure to curb situation. Republika daily (Jakarta) (13/3/99) 15 May '99 - Violence and indiscriminate shooting by security personnel in front of Army Regional Command office at Batu Gajah, when Christians protested the random shooting of Christians at Batu Merah-Mardika junction during the bloody incident at the annual celebration of Pattimura (Ambonese Hero) Day. YSWM (Sala Waku Maluku Foundation media) 22 May '99 - 7 July '99 - Results of the June 6 General Elections a disappointment to Moslems in Ambon city. FKKM Yogyakarta - Before the IInd Phase of the (Ambon) Riots started (early July '99) many provocative speeches were heard in mosques in Ambon. FKKI - from various sources - Rumors about possible attack by Moslems against Christians resulted in new tension (incident at Waab Christian quarters, 20/6/99). FKKI - from various sources IIND PHASE STARTED 9 JULY '99 ----------------------------- - Moslem attack upon Christians in Saparua island resulted in retaliation attack upon Sirisori Moslem village (15/7/99). FKKM Yogyakarta FKKI - from various sources Prior conditioning leading to conflict - Amassing of people using religious symbolisms (Banda Eli incident, 26-27/7/99; Kampung Timur Benteng, 27/7/99). FKKI - from various sources - Attack by Moslems from Leihitu (peninsula) area [Villages of Hitu, Mamala, Wakal] at Christian villages in Poka and Rumah Tiga. Spreading of conflict. FKKI - from various sources, 11/8/99 EM, YSWM in "Galala" - Rumors and acts of terror to create tension (at OSM Seacoast area Moslems pelted the houses of Christians with stones), suspicion and disunity among Christians, trying to arouse emotions of Christians (ridiculing them by shouting "Jesus, stealing our tricycles"). - Moslems attack with help of security personnel (Poka Incident, 24/7/99; Banda Eli Wainitu, 26-28/7/99; Tanah Lapang, 27/7/99; Aster-Galala, 11/8/99; Ahuru-Sirimau, 12/8/99; Suli, 18/8/99; Batu Merah, 3/10/99, 9/10/99; Benteng Atas, 3/10/99). FKKI - from various sources - During the attacks by Moslems in Ambon some were seen being equipped with army issue rifles and fatigues (militia). YSWM - Moslems start attacking Christians on PELNI sea vessels on Ujung Pandang route (m.v. Bukit Siguntang, 18/9/99; 24/9/99) FKKI - from various sources - Sixty youths from Ujung Pandang arrive by m.v. Lambelu on 29 July 1999. - On various occasions security personnel allowed and assisted Moslems in their attacks. FKKI - from various sources - The Marines acted professionally in keeping away attackers from the White Faction (Moslems, dressed in white and wearing white headbands). But (Moslems) protested against Mobile Brigade (Police) members whom they accused of siding with the Christians. - Collective violence and attacks by Moslems spread to Ceram island (Loki, etc. 18-21/8/99). - Kairatu Station/IRA Explanatory Notes: FKKI (Christian Communication Forum of Indonesia, based in Surabaya) YSWM (Sala Waku Foundation of Maluku, based in Ambon) FKKM (Forum Heeding Maluku Unrest, based in Yogyakarta, Central Java). TPG (Team of Lawyers from Protestant Church of Maluku) Recommendation Based on the above facts, we submit the following recommendation: 1. That the government should be transparent as far as the actual facts of the riots in Ambon are concerned. 2. The leadership of the Police Force and the TNI must act with authority against any of their soldiers who have been infiltrated by sectarian politics and influenced by intellectual actors or provocators which are a slur to the image of TNI and the Police Force in the eyes of the community, and henceforth place Marines from Surabaya in their stead to ensure a neutral security approach. 3. That members of the regional bureaucracy who are involved in sectarian politics and who have been proven guilty of actions which provoked unrest, directly or indirectly, should be replaced. 4. Outsiders from Ambon should not be involved in handling the Ambon problem, so that the problem can be solved by the local traditional leaders with Madame Megawati Soekarnoputri as mediator. 5. There is a need to form an independent team to carry out an objective investigation to find out the provocators and masterminds behind the riots in Ambon. 6. It is hoped that statements from religious leaders and the press in Jakarta will not affect the reconciliation process by disproportionate and biased media reporting. 7. Temporarily no people from outside Maluku should be allowed to stay in Central Maluku, except those who are domiciled in the area. These are my suggestions, and may this contribute to finding a solution to the problem in Ambon. Prof. (Emeritus) J.E. Sahetapy "Sebab segala sesuatu adalah dari Dia, dan oleh Dia, dan kepada Dia: Bagi Dialah kemuliaan sampai selama-lamanya!" (Roma 11:36) *********************************************************************** Moderator EskolNet berhak menyeleksi tulisan/artikel yang masuk. Untuk informasi lebih lanjut, pertanyaan, saran, kritik dan sumbangan tulisan harap menghubungi [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bank Danamon Cab. Ambengan Plaza Surabaya, a.n. 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