An Open Letter to the President of the USA
 Other articles of Joshua Latupatti (most in Indonesian)
Ambon, April 15, 2002
Dear Mr. President of the United States of America,
SUBJECT: POSTPONEMENT OF MILITARY AID
As you may be well aware of, a what so called ‘sectarian conflict’ in the province of
Moluccas (Maluku), Indonesia, has been going on and on for more than three years
now. Thousands people have died while hundreds of thousands have to live in refugee
camps. Thousands of houses and buildings have been destroyed and many
(Christian) villages have been either destroyed or taken over by Islamic based "jihad
militia", supported by military and police generals, deserters, politicians, government
officials and many Islamic Organizations including the National Council of Ulemas
(MUI). .
The infiltration of the "jihad militia" to Moluccas, although strongly prohibited by the
former President of Indonesia, KH. Abdulrahman Wahid, was encouraged and
supported by "Amin Rais", leader of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and chief of
the People Assembly (MPR) and "Hamzah Haz", leader of the United Development
Party (PPP) and recent Vice President of Indonesia. On its way to Moluccas, "jihad
militia" was assisted by "Sudi Silalahi", former chief of Brawijaya Military Commander
and "Da’i Bachtiar", former chief of the Regional Police Force of East Java and
recent National Police chief.
Many middle rank military and police officers have joined "jihad militia" and were
apprehended, but then released without being taken to court. The same treatments
were seen to be given to many detained policemen and military soldiers, and "jihad
militia". Some international related Islamic militias like those from Malaysia (KMM)
and Arab Countries were allowed to freely enter the country to be involved in fighting
Christians in Moluccas. They were heavily armed with military standard firearms and
ammunitions that some evidently taken from a special military equipment and facility
manufacturer, PINDAD.
People of Moluccas have been molested for more than fifty years based upon a wrong
accusation towards the Republic of South Moluccas (RMS) which proclaimed its
independent from the United States of Indonesia (RIS), in April 25th, 1995. The RMS,
which had every right to The RMS which had every right to be an independent nation,
according to International Laws and Conventions between the Dutch and the RIS
(Linggarjati, Renville, Roem-Royen, and Round Table conventions), was invaded by
the former Republic of Indonesia (RI) led by Soekarno. The RI itself was one of the
states in the RIS, which was govern by the RIS Constitusion. It was in 1959, did
Soekarno pronounced a decree to implement the 1945 Constitution (again) that
allowed him to occupy all the RIS territory. Soekarno then considered Moluccas as a
rebellious province and this twisted account was written down on the pages of national
history to be learned by all Indonesians and swallowed by all Moluccans.
But, the truth could never be hidden forever. The people of Moluccas have discovered
their rights which were robbed by the former RI, in 1950. Indonesia’s recent
government has nothing whatsoever to say against this discovery but keeps launching
informal accusation against Moluccans as ‘separatists’. Instead of taking this
‘separatism’ matter to an International Court as the Moluccan Sovereign Forum (FKM) had
frequently asked for, Indonesia’s government tends to keep suppressing Moluccans
by prolonging the conflict. The peaceful agreement known as Malino II Declaration has
been, so far, a temporary ‘make up’ on the face of Indonesia’s government. Please
remember that Indonesia’s government consists of some retired army generals from
the New Order (Soeharto and Habibie’s era).
The "jihad militia" who former intention in infiltrating Moluccas was to help their
Moslem fellows, have now been transformed into a ‘defender of the unity of the
nation’. To justify their actions, "jihad militia" have baptized the FKM and RMS to be
a "Christian separatists group’, which evidently approved by Indonesia’s
government, military and police force. In fact both FKM and RMS includes Moluccan
Moslems in each of them. The Ministers of Social Affair for the RMS was actually a
Moslem by the name "Ibrahim Lestaluhu", who was the former ‘king’ of a Moslem
Village of Tulehu in Ambon. Even after the Malino II Declaration where peace should
be restored in Moluccas, there is no intention of removing "jihad militia" from
Moluccas. This heavily armed civilian militia are allowed to occupy several Christian
villages, and to spread its provocative messages nationwide. Its leader, Ja’far Umar
Thalib was once apprehended and held in custody in the National Police HQ, charged
for unlawfully implementing Islamic Law (stone to death) in Ambon. He was afterward
released for some unclear reasons and permitted to carry on his loathing religious
campaigns throughout the country. Transforming Moluccas into a totally Moslem
province is the main intention of "jihad militia" and they would not be reluctant to
perform forced circumcision to Moluccan Christian men and women, again.
On the other hand, the leader of FKM, dr. Alex Manuputty, was taken into Police
custody for raising the RMS’s flag on April 25, 2001. He was sent to the Police HQ
in Jakarta for no reason, and sent back afterward. It is interesting to note that Mr.
Manuputty was not charged for any separatism action that may result in a severe
sentence. To be able to accuse Mr. Manuputty as a separatist, Indonesia’s
government would have to formally prove that the RMS was actually rebelling in 1995
and that its Declaration of Independence was unlawful according to International Laws.
Failed to do so, Mr. Manuputty was only charged for disobeying the local authority’s
regulation. Consequently, Indonesia’s government would have to find a way to crush
the FKM and RMS, and it is believed that the latest bombing, killings and burnings
had very much to do with this.
Since the roles of military in political and social affairs was limited, there has been
numbers of communal disorder and clashes which required military operations. In
case of the conflict, a premeditated political conflict in a religious robe, in Moluccas, a
Regional Military Command (KODAM) was reinstalled in the province. This has, again,
expand the military network and strengthen its grips in a relatively wider territory. The
main reason behind this extended military territorial grips is the multibillion company
owned or run by retired military generals like Soeharto, and their families. You may
look at some ‘Wood Cutting and Industry" in Moluccas as an example. As a
consequence of expanding the territory, the military would need more supplies for
equipment and facilities. This, in turn, would create another prosperous business for
the retired army generals’ families. In short, to retain these corrupted business which
cause billion dollars loss to the nation, there should be no peace in some areas like
Moluccas (and Poso, Central Sulawesi). Many more innocent Moluccan people will
have to suffer and died for the sake of these military owned multimillion corrupted
companies.
As you may now be able to see, Mr. President, these three main contributors to the
conflict have their own separated interests in Moluccas to be pursued using a
common ‘escape goat’ – Christian Separatism Movements by the FKM and RMS.
Please allow me to reassure you, Mr. President, that the essence of this conflict does
not lie on religion. The source of this conflict is crooked political desires of
Indonesia’s government, military and "jihad militia", under the blanket of religion. I
hereby urge you to suspend your assistance to the Indonesian military, or you might
be considered as being supportive to the human rights abuses, corruptions and
political crimes in Indonesia. One bullet you give them may represent the death of an
innocent Moluccan, and the grieve of many others. This would, in the other
perspective, be a divergence of your determination in freeing the world from terrorisms,
one of which I have just shown you. At this stage, should I be asked ‘what would be
the most important thing for Moluccan people’, then the very answer shall be "the
presence of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force and Representatives" (in the
province).
Thank you very much for taking into account the sufferings of Moluccan people into
your thoughtful decisions and may God bless you, Mr. President.
Sincerely,
Joshua Latupatti
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