Kumpulan Artikel
Mengenai Peristiwa Ambon
Mengenai Peristiwa Ambon
Program Kerja | Koleksi | Anggota | Indeks Artikel
Muslims massacred in North Halmahera: a post-christmas tragedy at the start of the 21st century I. Prologue of the bloodshed North Halmahera ended the last century and started its history in the 21st century with blood. Christians who concentrated their forces before christmas of 1999 in various districts around North Halmahera attacked several muslim villages on December 26, 1999. Different ethnic muslims just broke their daily ramadan fasting when the incidents happened. The post-christmas attacks that are continuing until now in the following districts of Tobelo, Galela, Kao, Sidangoli, South Morotai and Jaillolo have caused unreparable damages to the muslims. The series of violence against muslims in these areas started at Districts Tobelo and Galela simultaneously. In Tobelo, christians are the majority compared to muslims while in Galela the number of muslims are more than christians. The attacks in Tobelo were not only against the muslims but also against the ethnic chinese. These were started at the villages of Gamsungi and Dufa-Dufa. Christians, armed with machettes, spears, bows and hand made bombs ransacked muslims and chinese who retreated to the two mosques in these two villages. Although the retreated muslims and chinese already raised white flags, the sign of surrendering, they were still being torched with the mosques. 250 women, children and the elderlies perished inside. The body of H. Samiun, the imam of Dufa-Dufa mosque, was chopped and thrown into his own mosque. Chinese owned stores were also burned down on December 26, 1999. The attacks later spread to Villages of Gurua, Popilo and Guari. Houses in these three villages were sprayed with gasoline from gasoline tanks and then burned down. Dead bodies were scattered on the village streets. One muslim woman was raped. The incidents in District Galela started by christians from Village Soatobaru who attacked muslims of Village Dokulamo. Beside houses were burned down in this village, the imam of the local mosque was also killed. The imam92s body, that was already buried, was dug by the christians and then chopped into two parts. Later, the upper body part was crucified inside the mosque. II. The violence spilled over The attacks against muslims in North Halmahera continued to spread to other districts. The following districts were targeted: District Kao (muslims were minority), District Sidolangi (majority was muslims), District Jailolo ( two villages were surrounded for three days) and District South Morotai (threatened of rounded-up by christians from Islands of Posi-Posi and Loleo). Only in Galela, muslims were the majority among eight other districts. Therefore, the attacks had overwhelmed them. If there are no outside supports in the next couple of days, it can be expected that muslims will be completely wiped out from North Halmahera by the end of the first of week of January 2000. III. The latest situation Until this report was published, there have been 2080 muslim casualties and more than 200 people wounded. The violence not only targeted men but also women, children and the elderlies. In District Tobelo, 250 women, children and the elderlies were inside the mosque and torched alive. In villages of Gurua, Popilo and Luari, muslims were massacred and their bodies were scattered along the village streets. This was reported by a member of a medical team sent from Jakarta three days ago. The massacre against muslims in North Halmahera not only targeted local or indigenous people but also against other ethnic migrants. Two trucks, full of Buginis who were trying to escape the incidents were also burned down with the people inside torched alive. Javanese and Minang ethnics were not the exception. Right now, there are 10000 refugees left and stranded inside the armed post of Battalion 732 in Banau, Tobelo. 5000 refugees of women, children and elderlies were successfully evacuated to the Islands of Ternate and Tidore using KM Lumbellu ( a ship name, auth.) on the night of January 2. Combined with the 12000 muslim refugees of ethnic Makian who had already been there in the two islands, the total number of refugees in South Ternate and Tidore were more than 17000. IV. The expected support Navy ships, expected to evacuate muslims from Tobelo and Galela as instructed by President Gus Dur, have not arrived yet. However, the armed forces chief has sent two more army battalions from Java since December 28, 1999. These troops are now deployed in Districts Tobelo, Kao, Galela and Jailolo. In each post, there are 150 TNI (armed forces, auth.) personnels which are not enough to cover these widespread districts. It is expected to have one more battalion to cover these areas. The most urgent need right now is the quick response by the central and local government in solving the refugee problems. Food and medicine are really needed for the 27000 refugees who are spread over Tobelo, Galela, Ternate and Tidore. Medics are also desperately needed to treat the wounded people among muslims and christians. Jakarta, January 3, 2000
Program Kerja | Koleksi | Anggota | Indeks Artikel