South Moluccas: International Peace Keeping Force Needed in Ambon
That is so important to let Your Excellencies know that brutality of Indonesian soldiers are still going on Christian community as follows:
- The Indonesian soldiers did a ‘great action’
in provocating people through the action of firing and bomb and grenade explosion
in many places in Ambon, such as: in Batu Gantung area, Mardika village, Karang
Panjang village.
- The firing of the church building Nazareth in village Karang Panjang Ambon,
in 4.00 in the morning in 28 April 2004. Many church members were guarding the
church inside. The soldiers came and offer help to guard the church. Then the
people dismissed as they entrust the soldiers to guard the church. But there
6 people congregation members who did not leave the church. These 6 en were
threatened and terrorized by the TNI soldiers. Among these 6 men, 4 men escaped,
it remained 2 men inside the church. Then the soldiers burned the church, at
which these 2 men were caught in the building. Luckily they had a chance to
escape and these 2 men are the key witnesses as this brutal action, and their
lives are threatened because they are hunted by TNI soldiers to be killed in
order ro hide crimes from being noticed.
- Reacting on that brutality, people (church members) went on strike at the
local police office (POLDA) hoping that they may meet directly with the ministers
who were visiting Maluku. Among these ministers there was the coordinating Minister
for politics and security Mr. Hari Sabarno. These ministers held the meeting
with local authorities at the airport Patimura Laha Ambon and they strictly
came back to Jakarta.
- Among the points of talks between the Minister and local government leaders,
the spiritual leaders, the Chairman of MUI (Majelis Ulama Indonesia / Indonesian
Moslem Scholar) suggested the government to put Ambon-Maluku in the program
of DOM (Daerah Operasi Militer / Military Operation Area), yet this suggestion
was rejected by another leaders: Catholic church leader and Synod leader of
Gereja Protestant Maluku and Mr. Hengky Hattu SH. We put this into the deep
consideration that military operation programme will really harm Christian community
on the one hand and it will really benefit the terrorists/Jihad troop that are
sent to Ambon on the other hand. Furtherly, this is the effort to genocide the
Maluku/Alifuri ethnic which is the original Maluku people by the Indonesian
Government.
- That is important to tell Your Excellencies that in April 22nd 2004 there
was an arrest on 6 members of TNI who infiltrate in the housing of Mobile Brigade
on the reason of selling Batik. And it is found after the interrogation by POLDA
Maluku that these 6 men are KOPASSUS personnel were constructing the strategy
to attack. These 6 personnel were indicated to plan attacks to Christian villages,
starting by their action tomeasure the strength of local police personnel.
- It is important to tell Your Excellencies that the people/ sympathizers of
FKM/RMS who raised the RMS flag had a bad torture. The men from Aboru (Haruku
island) were arrested in April 23rd 2004 and the men form Ulath (Saparua Island)
were arrested in April 25th 2004. These people were treated so cruelly and their
belonging, such as money were stolen. These people are now arrested at the office
of Maluku Police headquarter.
- Until this time we send the condition of ambon is still really frightening
and it is filled with the explosion of bombs, grenade and mortars and other
standard weapons. And the people who become refugee are increasing and it is
estimated to reach tens of thousands. Also the dead persons are found are still
found here and there.
- In addition, mass media is not fair. They only broadcast the victims of Laskar
Jihad Terrorists to public, but the Christians victims are not shown in mass
media.
- This bad condition of frighten and terrors also take place in many other islands.
- Bad condition is shown as the offices are not working, the second do not work.
- The government is weakening itself in handling the craziness of Laskar Jihad
terrorists.
- Once more we urge that, to solve this problem there should be an international
interventional, for the future of Maluku Alifuru people released from the chains
of colonialism. We would love to ask Your Excellencies to send Peace Keeping
Force here in Ambon Maluku to end up the process of genocide performed by Indonesian
government on the one hand and to find the very truth because the Indonesian
government is always telling lies about our condition.
- We also ask Your Excellencies to protect these six people who sign the letters,
family of Dr. alex Manuputty and Semmy Waileruny, SH, and FKM Sympathizers,
FKM staff and the people around the house of Dr. Alex Manuputty (FKM Executive
leader).
- We woul love to express our sincere gratitude for Yours Excellencies attention.
Ambon, April 28th 2004
ATAS NAMA PIMPINAM PUSAT
FRONT KEDAULATAN MALUKU
UNTUK
REPUBLIK MALUKU SELATAN
Ruben Huwae – Simon Salja
Jeanisse Y.R. Maada’el – Balthasar Talabessy
Carlos Dorman Latul – Daniel Malawau