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Maluku Terror Reborn
May 28 - June 4, 2001
Two figures—one Muslim, one Christian—have been arrested. So why does Maluku remain so bloody?
The Vista alley exploded in blood. A bomb blast rocked the Christian settlement in the hub of Ambon as unidentified men in striped pants assaulted the community one evening last week. At almost the same time, no less than 50 explosions and indiscriminate stabbings and slashings of inhabitants went on elsewhere in the city. Christian colonies were targets of the terror, which left 15 dead, 21 wounded by bayonets and dozens of houses razed to the ground.
Undoubtedly, fear has again spread through Maluku following the bombing, killing and torture of civilians, who had enjoyed peace for four months. Traditional markets in Ambon were deserted, while office, school and other public activities came to a standstill. City dwellers were taken aback. "I’m shocked because there has been no major issue lately," said resident, H.E. Simatauw.
A number of citizens saw several men wearing black-sleeved singlets and striped pants with backpacks before the explosions and murderous carnage. Danny Sihainenia, a Vista alley dweller who came across the military-styled men thought they were patrolling officers. "I even greeted them," he said.
So who were they? Alex Manuputty, chairman of the Maluku Sovereignty Front now under house arrest on charges of treason for flying the ‘South Maluku Republic’ flag, accused the security forces of involvement in the incident. Conversely, Pattimura XVI Regional Commander Brig. Gen. Made Yasa denied any military role.
Torn by bloody inter-religious rioting since December 1999, Maluku has in fact never returned to its original state. Many people have lost siblings and relatives, sustained traumas, been left homeless and have lived in abject fear. Traces of buildings reduced to ashes in Ambon and environs bear witness to the devastation. Muslims and Christians can no longer live in the same kampongs as they did in the past. They are now separated by a demarcation line dubbed the ‘Gaza Strip’.
The government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had attempted to solve the conflict in Maluku once and for all. One non-profit agency, The Go East Institute, held an open dialog between the belligerent parties at Langgur, two hours’ flight from Ambon, last March. Its participants from different factions maintained that the clashes had resulted not merely from an inter-group feud but were also triggered by external factors. The partiality of security forces and the presence of Laskar Jihad paramilitary troops had also added fuel to the atmosphere’s flames.
After enforcing civil emergency status without effect, some weeks ago the government arrested Laskar Jihad commander, Ja’far Umar Thalib, and took him to Jakarta. He has been charged with murder for applying stoning as an Islamic death sentence. Laskar Jihad’s troops, its members mostly coming from Java, claim there is a vacuum of law and that Islamic law is approved of by the local society. The government also arrested a Christian figure, Alex Mannuputty, on charges of advocating separatism.
In reality, however, Maluku retains its potential for divergence. While conflict is apparently far from subsiding, the repercussions become ever more complex on the international scene. The Netherlands-based Vrije Molukse Jongeren—Free Moluccan Youth—has launched demonstrations and violent acts since last year. The group has even threatened to bomb trains with Molotov cocktails to attract Dutch government attention and so lead to intervention in the Maluku quandary.
Without immediate action to settle this situation, a greater international dimension to the conflict is waiting just around the corner.
Bina Bektiati, Friets Kerlely (Ambon) and Dina Jerphanion (The Netherlands)
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