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The referee takes sides
Tempo Magazine NO. 49/XXIX/February 6 - 12, 2001
-- Maluku's problems may never end without a neutral force in control. But a recent incident shows just how deeply elements in Indonesia's security forces have become involved in the conflict.
Muslim snipers in Ambon were suspected of firing shots at the security forces from a city hotel. But when the security forces stormed the hotel they found some of their own among the shooters. Several were supposed to have left Maluku months ago, after claims they had taken sides in the conflict.
With Indonesian politics in chaos at the national level, finding a solution to this bloody conflict in Maluku has become harder than ever. In just over two years, the body count from the ongoing Maluku tragedy is put by some at as high as 8,000, not to mention thousands more forced to leave their homes. Seven months after a state of civil emergency was imposed, not much has changed and these latest incidents show that the police and military are still getting involved in the conflict.
It began with a 'sweeping' operation, carried out about two weeks ago. It involved a 'combined battalion' drawn from the army and air force special forces, marines and police. In an angry statement, the hard-line Islamic group the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah Communication Forum denounced the operation as 'brutal'. Based in Yogyakarta and Jakarta, this group has close links to the Laskar Jihad militia operating in Maluku, which went there on a mission to fight a holy war against Christians and has been widely accused of stoking the conflict for its own ends.
Quoting sources in Ambon, the forum claimed that people were tortured and others killed. The bodies of two Muslim civilians killed were hidden to hide the tracks of the security forces, the statement said.
In Ambon itself there was an outburst of anger from Muslim groups. They took to the streets. Shots were fired. Snipers shot at a 'combined battalion' security post from within the city hotel in question, prompting an exchange of fire. Three days after the first incident, a combined company of 130 personnel stormed the hotel, thought to be the headquarters of Islamic groups. Ten civilians were killed and dozens more were badly injured in the raid.
On the fourth floor of the hotel they caught 13 policemen and one member of the military. Four were mid-ranking officers. They also confiscated 14 weapons and hundreds of bullets. Most of the arrested policemen were badly injured after the assault. One of them, Dedi Afandi of Brimob in Maluku, later died.
"There are still some TNI/Police individuals operating on their own," said Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa, chief of the Ambon-based Pattimura military command. "We have identified the hotel as an unauthorized command post. It is operated and headed by mid-ranking officers."
The military man captured was Maj. Nurdin Nontji, a Bugis. This Muslim ethnic group from southern Sulawesi has long ties with Ambon. Buginese have often been targeted by Christians in the city. Nurdin had been assigned to the Pattimura military command for two years and according to Yasa had been warned several times not to operate outside the command line. "But he is very disobedient," Yasa added. Last Thursday, Nurdin was flown to Jakarta and handed over to the central military police. His military career is about to end. Yasa has recommended to the army chief of staff that Nurdin be discharged from the military.
The other three officers were from the Maluku police: Asst. Snr. Commissioner Jati Uarama Saragih, Commissioner Ricky Paays, and Commissioner Abdi Darman Sitepu. They were flown to Jakarta last Friday. Jati and Ricky are being held in a cell at police headquarters. Abdi was freed as he was judged not to have been involved.
Abdi was probably just in the wrong place at the wrong time, according to the head of the Maluku police information service. He had just been promoted from head of South Sulawesi's Jeneponto police unit and appointed as chief of the Brimob riot police in Maluku. He was staying at the hotel because there was no service house available for him. But although released, he has not got off scot-free. His promotion has been canceled and he has been transferred to Brimob headquarters in Jakarta.
The other two were supposed to have left Ambon three months ago. Jati was transferred to police headquarters in Jakarta and Ricky to East Nusa Tenggara. Both transfers were because they were judged not to be neutral in the conflict. But they chose to disregard orders and stay on in Ambon. The suggestion is they had been providing weapons to the 'white forces'-the Muslim militia. "Apparently they had a side project to provide the white groups with some basic needs and weapons," said a senior officer at national police HQ. "They may have done good business in the state of emergency."
This incident may have complex consequences. On Thursday last week there was suddenly a tense standoff between members of Brimob and the TNI, each equipped with heavy weapons. There was panic among the general public. Major clashes were averted only after Yasa and Maluku police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani intervened. One policeman died.
These troubles have prompted the government to postpone revoking the state of emergency, in force since June 27. Defense minister Moh. Mahfud M.D. had earlier said the government planned to revoke it soon, since there had been a period of relative calm. But these incidents mean those plans are now firmly on hold.
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