War
in the Moluccas
Front SIWA-LIMA Newsletter of 9 April
2002
issued by: FRONT SIWA – LIMA
National Headquarters Ambon in the Moluccas
Email: Psahureka@hotmail.com c/o
International Representation
fax: 0031 516513593
With latest news from the Moluccas:
Moluccan governor suddenly summoned to Jakarta
Bomb blast in crowded area in centre of Ambon
Governor’s office building burned to the ground
Role of Kopassus more evident
400 Kopassus members under cover as local civilians in Ambon
Military take in strategic positions
On March 27, 2002, the Moluccan Governor Mr. Saleh Latuconsina was suddenly
summoned by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister for Political and Security
Affairs for closed meetings in Jakarta with Brigade General Moestopo, chief
Commander of the Pattimura Division XVI of the Indonesian Army, Chief
Commissioner of Police Soenarko Danu Arto, and several other high ranking
military officers.
Exactly one week hereafter, on April 3rd, a bomb blasted in a crowded area in
Ambon, injuring 53 people an killing 4 instantly. Seconds before the blast a red
Toyota Kijang car, license plate DE55RB, was seen passing through the scene at
very high speed.
Shortly after the commotion the people upset with this violent incident
marched to protest to the Governor’s office about 700 meters further.
But at their arrival they noticed that the 3rd floor of the Governor’s
office was already ablaze and how the military was warning the workers to
evacuate the building.
From outside the fences the angry group Moluccans threw stones at the
Government’s building to express their protest. This was retaliated
immediately by gunfire from the Indonesian military. To disperse the angry group
of people the Indonesians military chased after them shooting and shouting into
another neighbourhood. The military even followed them into the churches and
houses.
The investigation
on the bomb blast was done by a special investigation team from Jakarta. The
bomb caused a devastation of a radius of 28 meters. The main ingredient is TNT(=
TRINITRO TOLUENA) is highly explosive chemical. The bomb fragments were to be
taken to Jakarta for further investigation.
The call for punishment by death
Indonesian authorities immediately accuse Moluccan Christians as the actors
in this bomb explosion.
The highest Indonesian government circles- ranging from the Indonesian
President Megawati and Vice President Hamzah Haz to Amin Rais ( Chairman People’s
Assembly), and certain Military and Police Commanders- spared no time to urge
for punishment by death of the (according to them) Moluccan perpetrators.
The KOPASSUS, the Indonesian special command elite forces:
Since more than a year active in the Moluccas.
The Kopassus force in Maluku is divided in:
200 army personnel ( special missions, commando’s, hit and run operations)
400 under cover agents infiltrate within the population to act as ordinary
civilians
300 so-called deserters who in reality have become members of the Laskar Jihad
All these Kopassus members have joined forces with all others of the Indonesian
Army, with Jihad and Mudjahidin troops against the Moluccan people.
The KOPASSUS is especially trained in terror and anti terror, hit-and- run
attacks, etc.
The role of the KOPASSUS
Becomes more evident in Maluku.
According to the special investigation team the bomb blast of April 3rd requires
professional handling. The TNT chemicals used in the bomb are obtainable only by
the Army through special license from the Indonesian Government.
The set up, timing and execution of the bomb blast with the simultaneously
burning down of the Governor’s office are operations attributed to the
Kopassus special trainings. Particularly the manipulation of the crowd and
conditions in such situation is the method of working applicable to the
Kopassus.
Military take in strategic positions
The Indonesian military is taking all possible positions in strategic
important locations throughout Ambon. Even is the mountains. Confiscating the
island of Banda as their headquarters, the Laskar Jihad and Laskar Mudjahidin
have turned conquered and devastated villages throughout the Moluccas into
training compounds.
To keep the Moluccan villagers to return to their ancestral grounds, the
Jihad troops have mined the surroundings of the villages.
Military repressive sweeping
Repressive sweeping by the Indonesian military and police is announced for
the month of April.
Using a stipulation of the Indonesian Malino Peace Accord that the Moluccan
people have to surrender their weapons to the Indonesian Army, the Indonesian
local authorities are justifying their ‘military repressive sweeping ’in the
hunt after weapons in the Moluccan houses.
D-Day means imminent military operation
The Indonesian military and police are constantly threatening the Moluccan
civilians with their D Day for the ‘thorough cleansing’ through an imminent
military operation.
S .O. S.- APPEAL from Maluku - April 2002
To the International peace-loving World,
We urgently appeal to you to keep a close watch on the situation in the
Moluccas.
Save us by monitoring the Indonesian military build-up and the reinforcements
of the Laskar Jihad and Laskar Mudjahidin troops in the Moluccas.
Save us by expressing your concern of the imminent operation of a military
repressive sweeping in Maluku.
Save us by exploring all possibilities to send in an international team to
investigate at place the true situation in Maluku.
Save us by calling for an immediate halt to the crimes, war crimes and crimes
against humanity perpetrated by Indonesia in Maluku.
Front SIWA-LIMA Newsletter of 20
February 2002 (back to top)
Ambon , 20-02-2002
The Malino Accord does not uphold Humanitarian Law and Human Rights for the
Moluccan people in Maluku
Repressive measures to be taken against any opponent of the Malino Accord
On February 18, 2002, Maluku Police Chief Brigadier General Soenarko declared on
Maluku television that the Malino Accord will be empowered shortly within the
population.
Full law enforcement is granted to the Polri (Indonesian Police) and the TNI
(Indonesian Army) in realizing this. Soenarko warned that any opponent of the
Malino Accord will be arrested and taken away.
The Maluku population not only fears this intimidation but also the harsh and
inhuman (deadly) treatment of the Indonesian occupying forces against the
Moluccan population.
No measures against the Laskar opposing the Malino Accord
Two days after the signing of the Malino Accord, Jafar Umar Talib, the
Commander of the Laskar Jihad (troops) in the Moluccas, in a press conference
stated his non acceptance of the Malino Peace Accord.
The bomb explosions and violent outbursts in Ambon marking this have remained
untreated by the Indonesian police and military. The Laskar Jihad continue to
state to fight the war in the Moluccas till the end.
News media strictly monitored
Already placed out of reach from international attention and concern by the
Indonesians, the Moluccan people will be further isolated through
communication. After the prohibition of sending faxes to the outside
world, now Soenarko declared that the media in the Moluccas will be strictly
monitored with their news and views.
RMS
As expressed by a Muslim Moluccan: The RMS is not only of the Moluccan
Christians. The RMS is for the entire Moluccan people.
Peace for the Moluccan people
There could be no real Peace unless liberated from Indonesia and the
Indonesian war criminals punished, is Moluccan grassroots saying
The Malino Accord in reality
-obstructs the real peace engagements processed since May last year by the
Maluku indigenous people.
-aims to cleans the Djakarta regime, the Indonesian police, the Indonesian
armed forces, the Laskar Jihad and the Laskar Mudjahadin of the committed
atrocities, crimes war crimes, crimes against humanity perpetrated in Maluku.
-paves the way to impunity and no accountability for the Indonesian war
criminals in Maluku.
-by reinstating and rehabilitating Indonesian “goodwill” at the
international level must boost the money flow by the world community to the
Indonesian government.
No Peace Without Justice, No Justice Without Freedom, No Freedom Without
Liberation
For a true transcript of the statement transmitted by telephone and
translated into the English language, was signed, Pelpina Sahureka, Head
External Affairs, Front SIWA LIMA RMS International
NO PEACE WITHOUT JUSTICE IN THE MOLUCCAS (back
to top)
The Front SIWA LIMA headquartered in the Moluccas asked your help in the
immediate dissemination to the international world of the following statement:
AMBON, FEBRUARY 12, 2002.
The Moluccan people through its legal international representative, the Front
SIWA LIMA, categorically rejects the so-called "Malino Peace Accord"
of February 12, 2002.
Moluccan People's voice suppressed
Since January 2002, the Indonesian Foreign Minister has issued a declaration
forbidding any fax to be sent from the Moluccas to the international World.
He stated that this measure was taken because there were some group in the
Moluccas that through the use of faxes has abused Indonesian good name and
reputation on the international field.
Since then military personnel were posted in all teleshops to prevent any fax to
be sent from the Moluccas to the international world.
No legal and true representation of the Moluccan people
The participants do not represent the Moluccan people. But are handpicked by
the Indonesian authorities in the Moluccas.
The role and participation of the Laskar Jihad is unacceptable. The Laskar Jihad
is one of the forces that is guilty of atrocities, war crimes and crimes against
humanity against the Moluccan people.
Not based on true situation
The war situation in the Moluccas does not stern from religious conflict
between the Moluccans, either Muslims and Christians and/or between the North
and South Moluccas.
These are pretexts continuously used by the Jakarta regime.
No Justice
The Indonesian Government receives creditation for the 'peace' iniative.
However, the cry for Peace has always come from the grassroots Moluccan people
but every move towards this direction is obstructed by the Indonesian forces.
But since May 2001 secret meetings between Moluccan Muslims and Christians have
taken place. Secretly, because until now any contact between a Moluccan Muslim
and Christian is punishable by death by the Indonesian occupying forces.
The roadblocks, segregation controlled by military posts etc. are imposed since
1999 up until now by the Indonesian occupying forces to keep the Moluccan people
religiously separated .
No Impunity and Accountability
This Accord, fully orchestrated by the Indonesian authorities, deliberately
omits the mentioning of the crimes, war crimes and crimes against humanity
perpetrated against the Moluccan people.
The entire Moluccan Population believes that true Peace can only be achieved
by:
1. An independent international investigation team to be sent in to the
Moluccas to investigate at place the true origins of the war situation and the
real will of the people.
2. The masterminds behind the war situation in the Moluccas be found, tried and
indicted before an international Tribunal
3. The instigators and perpetrators of the atrocities, crimes, warcrimes and
crimes against humanity committed against the Moluccan people be tried and
indicted before international Courts of Law.
4. Acknowledging and recognizing the true aspiration of the Moluccan people to
be free and liberated.
5. The real voice of the Moluccan people being expressed without fear of being
punished by the Indonesians.
No Peace Without Justice, No Justice Without Freedom, No Freedom Without
Liberation
For a true transcript of the statement transmitted by telephone and translated
into the english language.
Pelpina Sahureka, Head External Affairs
FRONT SIWA LIMA INTERNATIONAL
Front SIWA-LIMA letter of 29 November
2001 (back to top)
S. O. S. ……S. O. S……..S. O. S…………..MALUKU
Dear Sir/Madam,
Dear Friends,
Indonesia stepped up its atrocities of war crimes and crimes against humanity
in the Moluccas right after Jafar Umar Talib, the Commander of the Jihad and
Mudjahidin Troops in Maluku suddenly arrived in Ambon on October 19th, 2001.
Two days later in the El-Fatah mosque in Ambon in his lengthy Tabligh Akbar
speech Jafar Umar Talib strongly agitated all Muslims to continue this war until
all Moluccas have been "Islamised." During this Tabligh Akbar speech
of
Jafar Umar Talib, the Maluku Muslims stood up and walked out of the mosque.
This sign of protest/disobedience was retaliated immediately the next day by
shootings and bomb explosions in the Moluccan muslim areas.
In an interview on Dutch television "TWEE VANDAAG" on November 22nd,
2001
Jafar Umar Talib reiterated his troops objective in the Moluccas, namely to wipe
out the Moluccan people's national aspiration, the RMS, and until all Maluku has
been islamized. In this same interview could be seen Jafar's urgent
message to all Muslims to continue the war against the U.S.
The forces in Maluku fighting against the innocent Moluccan population:
Now operating against the innocent civilians in the Moluccas are Indonesian
troops that consist of the Laskar Jihad, the Laskar Mudjahidin and the
Indonesian Army spearheaded by the Indonesian special elite forces, the
Kopassus Laskar Jihad are Muslim fighters recruited as mercenaries from
predomaninantly the Indonesian main island of Java. Laskar Mudjahidin are
Muslims fighters Recruited as mercenaries from outside Indonesia, like
Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Yemen etc.
The Kopassus is the elite special forces of the Indonesian Army, trained by and
In the United States. The Kopassus was set up by Suharto and was used by the
latter to crack down his opponents, like in 1997 the rival party PDI headed by
Megawati.
Throughout Indonesia it is well known that the Kopassus is used against
dangerous peoples.
The Kopassus troops who just arrived last October were reinforcements from Aceh.
In Maluku the Indonesian troops are the Laskar Jihad and the Laskar Mudjahidin,
and vice versa.
This is an urgent S.O.S. appeal from the suffering people in the Moluccas.
The Indonesians have begun their operation to destroy all popular Moluccan
strongholds. At the same time other Laskar Jihad families from Java have been
pouring into the Moluccas to 'populate' the emptied ancestral grounds of the
Moluccan indigenous, the Alifuru's.
The Moluccan people are being attacked both on land and sea.
The "deadline" is set up for January 19th 2002, the 3rd anniversary
of the Indonesian attack on the Moluccas.
Hence the massive military force build up by the Kopassus, the Laskar Jihad and
the Laskar Mudjahidin throughout Maluku, especially in the territory of the
(Republic of the) South Moluccas.
Formal Statement issued by the Moluccan Muslims
On October 29th 2001 from the Moluccan Muslims a formal declaration had been
issued, This declaration, signed by the six-headed direction, emphasizes the
following:
- the miserable living condition, the critical situation and the non-stop
alarming
genocidal threat that are caused by the Indonesian military and their
mercenaries the Laskar Jihad and the International Terrorism,
- these same evil forces continued to perpetrate all sorts of atrocities and
terrorism aiming at the annihilation of the Moluccans as a People and the
devastation of the Country.
- Jafar Umar Talib who came to the Moluccas on October 24th, 2001, and
Mercilessly proceeded with actions of provocations, instigations and
intimidations against the Moluccan people. These actions are openly supported by
the Indonesian military.
Moluccan Muslims are cornered into a cruel and inhuman sufferings and were
forced to join the Indonesians against Moluccan Christians. Immediate death of
whole families by refusal of following their orders and commands.
To the International Community and the United Nations, the Moluccan Muslims
state their firm commitment, these are :
1. We have never invited or requested Jafar Umar Talib and his mercenary
troops (The Laskar Jihad and the International Terrorism) to come to the
Moluccas. Their presence and all is arranged by the Indonesian Government.
2. We oppose all and any activity that is planned and set up by Jafar Umar Talib
and his mercenary troops in the Moluccas
3. We urgently request the international peace intervention from the United
Nations (Security Council) to come to the Moluccas as soon as possible.
4. We call upon the international World and the United Nations to force the
Indonesian Government to return to the Moluccan people the Independence of the
republic of South Moluccas as proclaimed on April 25, 1950, through the
intermediary of the Front SIWA-LIMA international headed by Ms Pelpina Sahureka
-- Maluku, 29 October 2001
Front SIWA-LIMA Newsletter of October 2001
(back to top)
Taliban and the role of Osama bin Laden in the Moluccas
This report is forwarded to us by our Representation in Djakarta.
Since September 11th 2001:
From the Muslim side of the Front SIWA-LIMA in the Moluccas it is reported that
the Laskar Jihad had issued a warning stating that when the United States attack
Afghanistan, the Laskar Jihad would retaliate against the Moluccans especially
the Christians. Since the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on
September 11th, the situation in the Moluccas is becoming more tense and
critical. Bombing explosions are everywhere. Since a few weeks time bombs were
planted by the Indonesian soldiers in busy places like the markets and so on,
but since September 11th the Laskar Jihad mercenaries are stepping up their
atrocities.
The Laskar Jihad mercenaries:
The Laskar Jihad is the back-up force of the Indonesian troops and together they
have been perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Moluccas.
The Indonesian forces aggressed the Moluccan people since Nov. 1998, and since
Feb. 1999 the Indonesian troops have been smuggling in thousands of mercenaries
from Java into the Moluccas to help them fight against the Moluccan people. From
the beginning of 2000 a retired Lt. General of the Indonesian Army, Rustom
Kastor, started to recruit thousands of young (unemployed) militant Javanese as
'holy warriors'. These holy warriors were openly trained and armed in a stadium
in Djokadjakarta on the island of Java. While in their training camps the
commanders called themselves the Laskar Jihad and openly announced their goal,
namely, to fight a JIHAD ( holy war) in the Moluccas in May 2000 to eradicate
the RMS (=Republic of South Moluccas) "separatists" and all the
Moluccan Christians. And they came by thousands with their well equipped
military warfare to the Moluccas.
Every territory that they conquered they planted the Indonesian flag. Whole
villages, whole islands were attacked by them and the inhabitants ousted or
wiped out. Their attack on the Moluccan people consisted of five-way operation:
1. so-called scouts were sent out into a certain village to mark the
buildings/houses to be burned
2. the Indonesian military opened the attack for the Laskar Jihad mercenaries
3. the Laskar Jihad mercenaries stormed into the village right behind the
Indonesian military
4. special military trucks followed to take all the furniture, kitchen
appliances and all house wares
5. the Moluccan inhabitants ousted and the belongings taken away by the trucks,
the Laskar Jihad mercenaries and the Indonesian soldiers persecuted to kill the
fleeing inhabitants while other LJ mercenaries and military started to loot,
devastate and burn down the houses, and the village was completely razed to the
ground. They used tanks, mortars, grenades, bombs, flame throwers, landmines
etc. To date this war has cost the lives of tens of thousands of Moluccan
people, and hundreds of thousands have become refugees and/or IDP's. With the
coming of the Laskar Jihad mercenaries in 2000 there have been numerous cases of
forced conversion into Islam (thousands), forced circumcision, forced genital
mutilation on women and girls, segregation in schools, markets, work places
etc., islamization of villages and islands (names of places have been changed
into Muslim names), official decree issued by the Commander of the Laskar Jihad
mercenaries forbidding Moluccan Muslims to interact with their Christian
counterparts and relatives, etc. A demarcation line throughout the capital city
of Ambon separates Moluccan Muslim and Christian quarters. The constant threat
openly issued by the Commanders of the Laskar Jihad is to eradicate all
Christians from Moluccan soil.
The Indonesian military, the Indonesian Police and the Laskar Jihad mercenaries
The Laskar Jihad is created in February 2000 in Djokdjakarta (Java) by Lt.
General Rustam Kastor as back up forces for the Indonesian troops in the
Moluccas. By controlling the ports and airport of the Moluccas the Indonesian
soldiers could facilitate the entrance of the Laskar Jihad troops with their
containers full of war materials. The Indonesian military pose as Laskar Jihad
mercenaries and vice versa, the mercenaries also wear military clothing in their
attacks on the Moluccan civilians. It is a fact that the Laskar Jihad warriors
use drugs before each attack. The Indonesian military permit the Laskar Jihad
mercenaries to fabricate false identity cards indicating the Laskar mercenaries
as the original inhabitants of the devastated territories. The occupied places
were transformed into training camps for the Laskar Jihad.
On September 4 2001, the head of the Indonesian Police Brigade in the Moluccas,
Lt. General Edy Darnadi, officially requested the Commander of the Laskar Jihad
Ahlussunah Wal Jamaah, Jaffar Umar Talib, for support of the Laskar Jihad to the
Indonesian Police. Jaffar Umar Talib has accepted this request. This means that
not only the Indonesian Military but also the Police are now teaming up with the
Laskar Jihad mercenaries against the Moluccan people.
Who is Jaffar Umar Talib He was born at Malang, East Java 40 years ago, parents
Javanese-Yemenite, studied at Yemen and helped engineer the birth of this Laskar
Jihad. The Laskar Jihad hailed him as "... a fully experienced commander
who had been joining Afghan Mujahidin in fighting against the imperialist -USSR.
As we know, the Afghan Mujahidin won this war and threw out the fully armed USSR
troops...." Jaffar Umar Talib is considered the commander of the Laskar
Jihad in the Moluccas.
Taliban in the Moluccas
It is no longer a secret that members of the Taliban have been fighting with the
Laskar Jihad against the Moluccan people. The trained Taliban fighters came from
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Malaysia and the Philippines. Their physical Arab
appearances, the language (they cannot speak the Malayan language) indicate they
are from Afghanistan or Yemen. Identity papers found on them showed their
origin. These identity papers were revoked by the Indonesian police from the
Moluccans who have found them. Nowadays the Laskar Jihad mercenaries carry no
identity papers on them when they go out to attack the Moluccan civilians. The
Indonesian military and police in the Moluccas are still aiming to conceal the
active presence of the Taliban in the Moluccas.
Why the Moluccas ?
We can think of many reasons, but the two most important ones are the uranium
and the strategic position of the Moluccas.
The ties between the Laskar Jihad and the Indonesian Government
There exists a relationship, although not too exposed, between the Laskar Jihad
and the Indonesian Government. Before coming into the Moluccas the Laskar Jihad
has announced this openly and publicly throughout the news media over all
Indonesia. They even had open trainings and demonstrations. While in their
training camps they publicly announced their objective to go to the Moluccas to
eradicate the RMS and the Moluccan Christians within two months. Nobody
objected, the Indonesian government did not try to stop them, but allowed them
to invade fully armed the Moluccas. The Indonesian Government until now attempt
to ignore and hide the facts about the presence and the real role of the Laskar
Jihad in the Moluccas from the international world. On August 8, 2001, the new
Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz, received in his first audiences at the
Presidential Palace, Jafar Umar Talib as the Commander of the Laskar Jihad in
the Moluccas. The speaker of the House In Indonesia, Akbar Tandjung, the
Chairman of the MPR (Indonesian Parliamentary Commission) Amien Rais, and the
Vice President Hamzah Haz are known to be Muslim hardliners who want to
transform Indonesia into an Islamic state. All three have always been
sympathizing with the Laskar Jihad in the Moluccas.
Osama Bin Laden in the Moluccas . . . .
While attending the UN Subcommission on Human Rights in Geneva we received a
telephone call with the urgent request to send without delay a picture of Osama
Bin Laden to the Moluccas. When asked why the picture was needed it was
explained that Osama Bin Laden was spotted in the Moluccas. But they are not
sure what he looked like. We forwarded a picture of Osama Bin Laden that we have
found on Internet. He had possibly stayed in the Banda Islands before leaving
for the Philippines. Just recently Jafar Umar Thalib, the Commander of the
Laskar Jihad in the Moluccas has affirmed that some two months ago Osama Bin
Laden's "special representative" (???) had come to the Laskar Jihad in
the Moluccas for a common worldwide Jihad.
Indonesia and the United States ?
In Djakarta the Muslim hardliners are threatening not only US citizens and
western foreigners but also those who are against the Taliban and Afghanistan,
like for example most of the Moluccans. Megawati went to the White House to seek
in the first place the lifting of the US weapon embargo on Indonesia and to
receive more military aid. These are the bargain prices for Indonesia's so
called support as the world's biggest Muslim country towards the United States.
In the meantime the YONGAB, the Indonesian joint forces, in the Moluccas have
been replaced by the Indonesian special elite troops, the KOPASSUS, most of
them with years of experience in Atjeh. It is a general known fact that
Indonesia is breaking apart as a unitary state and Megawati realizes that this
could be avoided only through the rebuilding of Indonesia's military power.
From September 11th when soliciting international support the U.S. Government
have worldwide declared that "if you are not for us than you are against
us." But in Indonesia anti-US sentiments and support for Osama Bin Laden
take hold and are growing. The Muslim hardliners have even threatened to attack
American targets and tourists throughout Indonesia when the U.S. invade
Afghanistan. They have declared a jihad holy war, against the U.S. citizens,
westerners, Moluccans and all those who are against the Taliban are in danger
everywhere in Indonesia. Despite anti- US sentiment that is growing fast
throughout Indonesia and the open threats by the Laskar Jihad and other Muslim
hardliners against American citizens, western foreigners and Moluccans, why do
the US Government proceed to give military and financial aid to Indonesia? What
criteria do the US give to Indonesia in "if you are not for us than you are
against us?"
Maluku and the United States:
"....same war, same terroristic attacks...." as said by Michael, our
friend in New York.
In one single day on the 11th of September 2001 thousands of innocent people in
the United States were inhumanly slaughtered by an international gang of war
crimes perpetrators. From 1998 tens of thousands of innocent Moluccan people
have been inhumanly slaughtered in their homeland by the exact same
international gang of war crimes perpetrators. A Jihad (holy war) is declared on
the U.S. the same Jihad was declared in April 2000 against the Moluccas. From
the very beginning the Moluccan people have been urging for world concern to
their situation. But the war crimes in the Moluccas that have caused tens of
thousands of deaths did not receive the adequate attention or help from the
international world. Worse, this international negligence and indifference have
encouraged these war criminals to continue and broaden their inhuman atrocities.
Since the attack on 11th September the situation in the Moluccas has become more
alarming and critical. Every day there were shootings and bomb explosions. Time
bombs are being planted in trucks, cars and at busy places like restaurants and
markets. The Laskar Jihad had also threatened to kill all Moluccans as
retaliation when the US attack Afghanistan. The same war, the same enemy, but it
seems that the unarmed Moluccan people is fighting all alone while the US as a
military power are getting international support.
There can be no Peace without Justice
There can be no Peace without Freedom
No Freedom without Liberation.
This Newsletter is issued by : Front SIWA-LIMA RMS National Headquarters in
Ambon in the Moluccas c/o FSL International Representation.
email: PSahureka@hotmail.com
Tel/fax: 00 31 516 513593
Bin Laden gave to Indonesians (back
to top)
(Attachment to Front SIWA-LIMA Newsletter of October 2001)
Source: The Age, Australia, By Lindsay Murdoch, Indonesia Correspondent, Jakarta
- Friday 28 September 2001
Indonesia's third largest Muslim group got funds from and had a "very
special" relationship with Osama bin Laden's terrorist organisation, one of
its leaders said yesterday.
Al Chaidar, who heads one of 14 factions of the radical Darul Islam movement,
told The Age that bin Laden's organisation had sent more than 1.2 billion
rupiah, the equivalent of about $A243,000, to fund anti-Christian operations in
Indonesia. "Yes, we've got funding and assistance from the Osama bin Laden
group since we went helping Afghanistan in the 1980s," Mr Al Chaidar said.
But Mr Al Chaidar, who has written 18 books on radical Muslim groups, claimed
that bin Laden had nothing to do with the September 11 terrorist attacks in the
US. "I think Osama bin Laden has been made a scapegoat by America," he
said.
Earlier, Mr Al Chaidar was quoted by the Jakarta-based Rakyat Merdeka newspaper
as saying that bin Laden's representatives had twice travelled to Indonesia's
Maluku islands where Muslims have been waging a jihad against Christians.
Mr Al Chaidar was quoted as saying representatives had also visited Indonesia's
troubled province of Aceh, at the northern tip of Sumatra, where more than
30,000 soldiers and police have launched a brutal operation against separatist
rebels. "The relationship between Darul Islam and Osama bin Laden is just
undeniable," Mr Al Chaidar said. His comments contradict Indonesian
security officials' denials that bin Laden's al Qaeda organisation has links to
Indonesia.
The comments will embarrass President Megawati Sukarnoputri who, during a visit
to Washington last week, offered Indonesia's support for the US anti-terrorist
campaign and described the September 11 attacks as "the worst atrocity ever
inflicted in the history of civilisation".
The US has vowed to crush organisations that do business with bin Laden, who it
has named as the key suspect in the US attacks.
Mr Al Chaidar said that Darul Islam had maintained an "intensive
relationship" with Afghanistan since thousands of its members had gone
there to help fight the Russians in the 1980s.
21 May 2001: Letter to UN
Secretary-General (back to top)
H.E. Mr Kofi Annan United Nations Secretary-General
Un Headquarters New York City, New York 10017 – USA
At telefax: 212-963-2125
Re: Indonesian elite forces, the Kopassus, attack defenceless Moluccan
civilians in their homes
Amsterdam, 21 May 2001.
Dear Mr Secretary-General,
Yesterday, Sunday evening May 20, at around 9.30 pm, three masked men in
uniform wearing bullet-proof vests and military boots, came to the door of Mr.
Ferry Ferdinandus, a local Front SIWA LIMA foreman.
While slamming at the door they set fire to the house. A little before
eyewitnesses saw these three masked Indonesian military men getting out of the
car carrying jerry cans with petrol.
When Ferry Ferdinandus – unaware what was going on outside his house – opened
the door they started to beat and torture him. Mr. Ferdinandus not only defended
himself but managed to fight the three military and tore off the masks. The
military then drew their bayonets and started to stab him numerous times.
Realizing that he could no longer resist, Ferry Ferdinandus fled to alarm the
neighbours. He was rushed on a motor bike to the nearest hospital where he died.
Before he died he was able to identify his attackers as the Indonesian military.
And in the meantime more military men and the Laskar mercenaries came and
continued to burn the houses. All Moluccan eyewitnesses who were detected on the
spot were instantly stabbed to death with the bayonets. When the people in the
surrounding area, both Muslims and Christians wanted to come to lend help to the
victimized families, the military used grenades, bombs, mortars and launcers to
keep them away. This brutal attack perpetrated by the Indonesian elite forces,
the Kopassus, against the Moluccan defenseless locals started from 09.30 in the
evening until 4 o’clock the following morning. It should be noted that the
electricity was totally cut off in this particular area during all that time of
the attack.
These are the names of the martyrs killed through stabbing with the bayonets.
1. Ferry Ferdinandus, male, local Front SIWA LIMA foreman, 46 years old
2. Moses Sahalessy, male
3. Dolly Sabenan, female
4. Petrus Pumael, male
5. Broery Toisuta, male
6. Pieter Riuwpassa, male, age 25
7. Wenang Tomasoa, male, age 31
8. Utje Gaspersz, male, age 40
Following is the list of names of the victims of grenade wounds,
9 Eddy Salawane, male
10 Stevie Sikate, male
11 Willim Gozal, male
12 Ronny Titihalawa, male
13 Joop Maail, male
14 Anita Papilaya, female
15 Donny Sihanenia, male
16 Ricky Oktolseya, male
17 Wally Payer, male
It is important to mention here that the Kopassus, the elite troops of the
Indonesian army is now embarking on a course aimed at the total liquidation of
the Moluccan people in Maluku. Either by eliminating them or by forcing
them to flee their ancestral grounds.
The attacks currently perpetrated by the YONGAB, joint forces of the KOPASSUS
(Indonesian special elite forces trained in and by the USA), the Marina and the
Airforce (Paskas) are now directly aimed at the Moluccan civilians. Since
the beginning of May units of the YONGAB torpedoed speedboats carrying Moluccan
civilians in the surroundings of the island of Ambon.
In these brutal attacks they all wore black masks to cover their faces, so
that they could not be identified.
On May 16, 2001, using seven speeds the units of YONGAB with the Laskar Jihad
mercenaries attempted to invade and conquer the coastal place of ALLANG.
The attack came from the sea but the people of Allang succeeded in beating off
the Indonesian military aggressors.
Even so in the attacks on Sunday, May 21, in the quarters of Soya Ketjil and
Karang Pandjang (4 people killed: Mr and Mrs Lokopessy, mr Piet Sabenan and
Sebsisi Sabenan, his daughter of 16) the attackers wore black masks and silently
forced themselves into the victims houses.
The Moluccan people, the ordinary courageous grass-root, people live in
constant fear and the imminent threat of being attacked and slaughtered to
death. They cannot understand the attitude of the local political and religious
elite who, at the hand of Djakarta annihilation policy towards Maluku, persist
in denying the alarming war situation and continue to promote the so-called
reconciliation processes that are now being imported from Djakarta.
The grass-root people has the genuine desire to have peace returned in
Maluku, but do not believe in these so-called reconciliation processes that they
see as a charade for impunity for the perpetrators of crimes against humanity in
Maluku
The Moluccan people demand all the perpetrators and attackers to be tried before an international Law Tribunal for their crimes against humanity in
Maluku. No impunity to all the political and military leaders who are guilty of
crimes against humanity in Maluku
According to reliable information received from the Front SIWA LIMA home
base, the Djakarta Government is strengthening and reinforcing his military and
their positions in Maluku. Since May 19, 2001, Lt. General Suady Marasabessy ,
the only highest ranking officer in the Indonesian army of Moluccan descent, has
arrived in Maluku.
It is known that every time when he arrive in Maluku the atrocities of the
Indonesian soldiers and their Laskar mercenaries are increasing and the
situation becoming worse.
Since two months the troops of the KOSTRAD division of Udjung Pandang and the
SILIWANGI division of KODAM have been returned to Maluku. These special
forces of the Indonesian troops have been known for their atrocities committed
during the most months of 1999.
Mr. Secretary General, the Moluccan people is still targeted to be completely
wiped out by Indonesia. These ordinary grass root people have nothing to
defend themselves with. How could they possibly defend their families, homes and
ancestral grounds from the vicious heavily armed and well trained Indonesian
military with their backup the Laskar Jihad mercenaries?
It is more than two years now that the Moluccan people have constantly been
urgently requesting aid from the United Nations. Until now there has been no
positive and clear attitude of this World Body towards the plea for help of the
suffering Moluccan people. And Indonesia continues to perpetrate all kinds of
crimes against humanity in Maluku before your very own eyes. But who or
what is preventing you from condemning and/or sanctioning Indonesia for all
these crimes?
The Moluccan people cannot tolerate these inhuman atrocities any
longer. They have nothing to defend themselves with. But they refuse
to surrender and to be ousted from their own ancestral grounds. The
Moluccan people will have no choice but to rise and take the destiny into their
own hands.
Taking in consideration this situation I would like to request you for a
meeting, formally or informally, in which I shall be able to acquaint you with
detailed information about my people’s situation.
Trusting that this information will be useful to you in your consideration of
the Moluccan question, and looking forward for further news, I remain,
Respectfully,
Pelpina SAHUREKA, Head Foreign Relations, Front SIWA-LIMA RMS international Representation.
REPOEBLIK MALOEKOE SELATAN (Republic of South Moluccas) Poetjoek Pimpinan Party
Revoloessioner SIWA-LIMA
Letter to all caring people in the world:
(back to top)
INDONESIAN ARMY OPERATES AS DEATH SQUADS IN THE SYSTEMATIC KILLINGS OF
MOLUCCAN CIVILIANS
May 20, 2001
As Death Squads
They sneak into the homes, carrying jerrycans with petrol to set fire on the
houses.
They wear black masks, military uniforms, bullet-proof vests and military boots
They are well armed with bombs, grenades, mortars and launchers
They knock at the door and demanded to be opened instantly
But upon opening the door they draw the bayonets and stab the victim death.
They are the elite group, trained in and by the USA
They open the way for their back-up the Laskar mercenaries
They kill any Moluccan, children, men women, Christians and Muslims.
But they continue to use religion as a pretext to cover their
war-crimes.
Therefore this URGENT APPEAL to you :
The Moluccan people need your help NOW.
On the verge of being totally exterminated by the Indonesians, the Moluccan
people cry out to YOU for immediate help.
The Moluccan people are forced to be silenced, but YOU can SPEAK OUT for
them.
Show your SOLIDARITY with the Moluccan People by urging the UNITED NATIONS
and your Government to:
- SEND A SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION TEAM TO THE MOLUCCAS
- ESTABLISH A MONITORING STATUS OF THE MOLUCCAN SITUATION BY THE UNITED
NATIONS.
- INDICT ALL PERPETRATORS OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN MALUKU BEFORE AN
INTERNATIONAL LAW TRIBUNAL
- PROVIDE ALL AID, INCLUDING HUMANITARIAN, RELIEF AND MEDICAL FOR THE
MOLUCCAN PEOPLE AND ANY OTHER HELP THAT IS NEEDED.
- ACKNOWLEDGE, RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT THE TRUE NATIONAL ASPIRATIONS OF THE
MOLUCCAN TO BE FREE AND THEIR RIGHT TO LIVE AS A SOVEREIGN PEOPLE ON THEIR
OWN ANCESTRAL GROUNDS.
For more detailed information on the latest situation in the Moluccas, please
read the copy of the letter that the FRONT SIWA-LIMA has addressed to Mr. Kofi
Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The same letter has also been sent to Madame Mary Robinson, High Commissioner
of the UN Human
Rights.
(back to top)
DEPLORABLE WAR SITUATION IN THE
MOLUCCAS (MALUKU ISLANDS)
Request for assistance from Republic of South Moluccas - FRONT SIWA-LIMA
(FSL)
23,000 Indonesian soldiers, backed by 30,000 'Laskar Jihad' mercenaries
and some hundreds of Taliban mercenaries, are waging a full-scale war against
the innocent Moluccan people, both Christian and Moslem. Moluccans report
that :
- 40,000 of their people have been killed in the past 20 months, and
thousands more injured.
- Villages, hospitals, universities and churches have been razed to the
ground, and villagers have fled into the mountains, jungle or sea.
- Both the Christian and state universities were destroyed in June 2000 and
whole Christian suburbs of Ambon City have been erased from the landscape.
- In the last week of November 2000 four villages in Gorong were attacked,
with some 54 killed and hundreds wounded, and more than 700 have fled.
- The Radja of the Moslem village Tulehu was killed because he refused to
collaborate with the mercenaries.
- The Indonesian military and mercenaries are attacking all speed boats and
fishing boats in the Moluccan waters, so far killing some dozen Christians
and Moslems.
- Attacks on the cities of Kairatu, Wahai and Gore continue.
- 300 Christians were forced by the mercenaries and the military to convert
to Islam.
- On the island of Saparua the inhabitants of the Moslem village of SiriSori
have left their village. Now the mercenaries and Indonesian soldiers
have settled there and are using it as a base to attack other places in
Saparua.
- It is said that the Lascar Jihad will begin "Operation H" in
December, promising that there will never again be a Moluccan Christmas, and
that Indonesia's President Wahid has announced that more warships will be
sent to Maluku.
On 29th November the people of Wayame (Hative Besar) in Ambon left their
village en masse, because of the impending attack on their village expected to
begin on 30th November.
Moslem families report that every family is forced to take at least two
mercenaries into their homes and to provide for them. Many girls and women are
raped and are committing suicide in large numbers. The men must go and
fight for the mercenaries, or all their family will be killed. This has
recently happened in the Moslem villages of Batumerah, Sirisori Islam and
Waehong.
The men are put in the front line of the fighting, and this is used to tell the
world that it is a religious fight between Moslems and Christians. It is
not. Moslems and Christians are both fighting against Indonesian
domination, and both are equally targeted by the Indonesians and their
mercenaries.
Petition
To:
Mrs Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights; and
H.E. Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations:
We, the undersigned, call upon the United Nations, in cooperation with the
Indonesian Government, to provide for:
1. an on-site fact-finding mission to the Moluccas;
2. a Special Rapporteur on the question of torture, extra-judicial, summary or
arbitrary executions be sent to the Moluccas;
3. prosecution and indictment to the fullest extent of international law of
those responsible for the human rights violations as described above, not only
of the political leaders, but also of the military leaders;
4. immediate withdrawal of the Indonesian Army and its mercenaries from
the Moluccas; and
5. immediate humanitarian aid, including food and medicines from
international organisations.
Stop the War in the Moluccas Petition Online
Please
go to the following address and sign the on-line petition below:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/ozpc3a01/petition.html
Bookmark this page first so you can return easily afterwards.
Back to Top
| 
