Letter from the Elders of the Village Siri Sori Amalatu (Saparua).
Siri Sori Amalatu, November 3, 2000
No: 330/40
Subject: The report on crimes and human
rights violations and the request to build
houses and other facilities
To: The Governor, as the leader of the civil emergency authority in the
Moluccas, Ambon.
Dear Sir,
The village Elders of Siri Sori Amalatu believe it is necessary to bring to your
attention our experiences in regard to various crimes and severe violations of
human rights committed by groups of Muslims.These groups of Muslims came
from the direction of the village of Siri Sori Islam and were supported by
units of the land-forces of the Indonesian Army, TNI-Angkatan Darat ( In
this letter referred to as aggressors) and at its conclusion you will find our
request.
- The crimes and violations of human rights, committed by the
aggressors against the inhabitants of Siri Sori Amalatu, are clearly
planned well in advance. The signs of this violence were mentioned
extensively in our letter of August 10, 2000 (number330/38). These
violations were discussed in a bilateral meeting with the District
Commander of the Police and the Governor (as the civil emergency
authority). The team of lawyers of the churches supported us at that
meeting.
- In the light of our experiences, and those of the other villages that
have been destroyed, we have asked the Governor to entrust the
protection of the village of Siri Sori Amalatu to units of the Mobile
Brigades of the Police Force rather than to the Military of the
Indonesian Land-Forces.The Governor granted our request and verbally
promised to order the commanders of the Police to do as such. It is
evident that the Governor did not keep that promise, for the
aggressors continue to commit crimes and violations against human
rights wherever they want and unhindered.
- After we presented our letter at the meeting forementioned,the
aggressors have attacked our village six times:
- Catalogue of the damage: Possessions and live cattle have been
stolen and 140 houses burned down.
- Two people were killed: Markus Kesaulya (age 27) and
Dominggus Tutuhatunewa (age 28).
- Four people were wounded: Glen Syauta, Fredi Likliwatil, Simon
Saimima and Meks Hitalilpessy;
- The inhabitants of the burned houses fled into the woods and
many children are no longer able to receive education.
- After this grievous attack had happened, the Governor, as civil
emergency authority, and his staff sent a unit of the Land- Forces.The
inhabitants however shunned the arrival of this unit in view of their
previously bad experiences with the Military of the Land-Forces. (They
have previously physically attacked the villagers and have co-launched
attacks together with the Muslims resulting in the destruction of their
village). Their presence would only bring further trouble and sorrow to
the people.
- On October 7, 2000 the Army ordered the inhabitants to build a
stronghold for their defence, using sandbags. These strongholds were
later used by the Military to attack the people of Siri Sori Amalatu.
- On October 7 and 8, 2000 the aggressors joined the Military of the
Army unit (post 403) of the Infantry and then launched an attack on
Siri Sori Amalatu.The village has been fired at and bombed with
mortars. On this occasion there were further lootings. Just as with the
former attacks, the results were disastrous for the inhabitants: 137
houses and the Church building with all its contents were set on fire
and the inhabitants have been robbed of their possessions and cattle.
Furthermore, the looters also took 4850 kg of rice and 50 boxes of
mie; these were donated to the inhabitants by the districts Elders.
After the attacks, the aggressors stayed the night in a Church
building. The aggressors and the Military of the 403 Infantry have
committed sexual acts against the women of Siri Sori Islam when they
brought food for the aggressors. As proof of these sexual acts, and to
offend and humiliate the Christian faith, they left behind seven pairs of
semen-stained female undergarments in the Church building.
- On October 11, 2000 the aggressors, specifically the Military of the
Land-Forces, have launched attacks on the fugitives, who had fled to
the woods and live in poorly built shelters. In this attack a school
building was set on fire and a civilian, Markus Sasabone, was shot in
the thighs by the Military of the Land-Forces.The Inhabitants of Siri
Sori Amalatu, who had fled to the woods, have experienced much
trouble due to the attacks from the Military.Their poor sheds, built in
haste, have been destroyed.
- On October 23, 2000 the aggressors attacked our village and battered
it with mortars. Fifteen houses and the Church have been set on fire.
- On October 26, 2000 Siri Sori Amalatu was battered and bombed
again. Before the Military of the Land - Force were stationed in the
villages of Siri Sori Islam and Siri Sori Amalatu, the inhabitants of Siri
Sori Amalatu had easily withstood the attacks by the Muslims from Siri
Sori Islam (which is, according to population counts, five times as
large), and there were no casualties. With the arrival of the units of
the Land-Force, with their modern weapons, a different situation
arose. In every attack the Military of these units of the Land-Forces
are involved and to make matters worse, they were in charge of the
attack. Consequently, the inhabitants of Siri Sori Amalatu could not
withstand this onslaught.
We hold accountable the Governor, as the civil emergency authority, for the
damage inflicted upon these people as a direct result of the aggressors. One
of the arguments is: the Governor, despite our requests (both verbal and in
writing) has done nothing to offer us any protection. In view of this we
hereby ask the Governor to give unconditional priority to the re-building of
our houses and other public facilities in the village of Siri Sori Amalatu.
This concludes our report and petition.
We thank you in advance and hereby receive our Christian greetings and
prayers.
Yours sincerely,
On behalf of the village substitutes - principal of Siri Sori Amalatu,
W.G. Utolseja
Secretary
CC:
- The president and the Vice-President of Indonesia
- The International Commission on human rights
- The National Commission on human rights via the representatives on
the Moluccas in Ambon
- The council of the Roman Catholic Church, the World Council of
Churches and the Council of Churches in and outside Indonesia
- Team of lawyers of the Churches
- Civil and Military authorities in the province of Maluku and Central
Maluku.
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