Sala Waku: Investigation on Popora Village

Investigation Outcome at Dusun Papora – Luhu Village District of West Seram – Piru

Translated by: Hendry Rijanto

Sala-Waku

1. Chronology of Events

1. Before the Incident

Dusun Papora is a residential area located within the Luhu Village, District of Seram Barat Piru. Even though there are only 24 Christian households totaling 116 people, consisting of 17 Evangelical Christian households (84 people) and 7 Catholic households (32 people), their relationship with other residents who generally are Moslems has been harmonious, especially with the residents of Luhu Village which happens to be their main village. However, after the Ambon incident on January 19, 1999, that relationship became seriously damaged due to the emergence of religious sentimentalism expressed by the surrounding community who are Moslems toward the Christian residents at Dusun Papora.

This can be understood better after learning in more detail what happened. According to eyewitnesses after the Ambon incident on January 19, 1999, the next day around 5 p.m. people of Papora village began to be terrorized by a rumor spread by three people who are residents of Papora Village. They were identified as Jubair, Nyong Onnoly, and Mr. Buhari. They said, "Tonight there will be an attack by Luhu’s people that will burn down all houses and churches."

Having this information, all Christian residents residing in Papora village began to fear and worry and, without giving further thought, they decided to immediately evacuate all women and children along with the elderly to the forest. Those people left Papora village at about 6 p.m.

According to eyewitnesses, after the women, children, and seniors were evacuated to the forest, only 8 men (mostly husbands) were left and at that time all of them gathered in the Pastori (Pastor’s house) with the intention of guarding the church and the Pastori. They were equipped with a radio transmitter that enabled them to inform the District Town of Piru of the rumors about the attack. But their effort to inform the District Town of Piru regarding the attack rumor was eventually canceled, because they had visitors who they identified to be people from Banda Eli who happened to reside in Papora village. The visitors told them, "Don’t spread the rumors to Piru, but instead tell the people that Papora is peaceful." They continued to assure the locals that nothing would happen. With that assurance the 8 men decided to go back to their own houses to sleep.

2. During the Incident (Attack)

While they were in their own houses, at 2 a.m. on January 21, 1999, the eyewitnesses reported that they were surprised by voices. "Allahu Akbar…." was being shouted repeatedly from the shores of Papora village which was about 200 meters (220 yards) from the Pastori.

These 8 people were severely outnumbered and thus could do nothing that night to prevent what happened next. According to the eyewitnesses, in about five minutes two Christian houses were burned down by the rioters. The owner of the houses were identified to be J. Watratan’s family and S. Sasratu’s family, located by the seashore in Papora village.

Afterwards scores of rioters went to the church building and Maluku Protestant Church’s Pastori (Pastor’s house), and after they turned off the lights the attackers then burned down the church building and Pastori.

While the church building and Pastori were on fire, there were only two Papora residents (Mr. J. Metanfenuan and Mr. H. Efruan) who guarded the location while the others escaped to the forest because of fear. While Metanfenuan and Efruan were fighting them, Efruan suffered a minor injury.

Because of the brutal attack by the rioters (estimated to be around 100), finally both Efruan and Metanfenuan were forced to withdraw and they escaped to the forest to join the others. The rioters then burned all of the houses, sparing none of them. The church buildings were also burned.

The residents of Papora village who had withdrawn and hidden themselves were then divided into two groups. The first group went on January 22, 1999 to Dusun Uhe and Iha Village which are Moslem villages and they were sheltered there. The other group stayed in the forest.

On January 23, 1999, they were picked up by the law enforcement officers coming from Piru and eventually evacuated to Loki Village.

As a result of the attack, Papora’s residents suffered damage as follows:

2. The Outcome of the Analysis of Dusun Papora Incident

Based on the preceding information, the following facts were discovered:

1. Before the Incident

1.1. It is a fact that before the attack occurred at 2 p.m. on January 21, 1999, information came around 5 p.m. on January 20, 1999 (20 hours before the attack occurred) that there would be an attack on Dusun Papora.

1.2. It is a fact that even though the rumor about the attack had been spread, Dusun Papora’s residents were assured and given the false impression that nothing would happen or at least that their safety was guaranteed.

1.3. It is a fact that the attack was done by a large crowd of people, which implies that a period of time was needed to gather and mobilize the crowd for the attack.

1.4. It is a fact that the attackers were armed with machetes, spears, or arrows prepared by the instigators.

Based on the facts above, then it can be concluded that the attack by Luhu Village residents was planned and prepared rather than it being a spontaneous event.

2. During the Incident

2.1. It is a fact that the attack by the Luhu Village residents to Dusun Papora residents happened 34 hours after the Ambon incident on January 19, 1999 and 17 hours after the Jasirah Leihitu incident. It demonstrates that there must be a relationship between the Ambon incident, the Jasirah Leihitu incident, and the Dusun Papora incident, incited by a certain local instigator or instigators.

2.2. It is a fact that the target of the attack was mainly the Christian residents, their houses, church buildings, and other related facilities such as the Pastori.

Based on the facts above, it can be reasonably concluded that the attack by Luhu Village Moslem residents on Dusun Papora’s Christian residents was a further propagation from the Ambon incident on January 19, 1999 or the Jasirah Leihitu incident on January 20, 1999, these all being incited by an irresponsible local instigator or instigators.

3. Law Enforcement’s Role

3.1. It is a fact that, before and after the incident, no law enforcement was on the site.

3.2. It is a fact that, looking at the time perspective from the Ambon incident and the Jasirah Leihitu incident, and also the distance between the locations of the incidents to the local law enforcement’s base of operations at the District of Piru or Leihitu and broken communication because of the assurances of security, local law enforcement was unable to secure the site when the incidents happened.

Based on the facts above, it can be concluded that the absence of law enforcement on the site was one of the factors that enabled the instigators and attackers to operate without fear.

4. After the Incident

4.1. It is a fact that law enforcement has not afterwards done their best to investigate the instigators behind all these incidents and prosecute them according to the law.

4.2. It is a fact that the local government has not paid full attention to the local citizens who were evacuated to Loki Village as well as to the other incidents’ victims.

3. Recommendations

Based on the chronology of events and the analysis provided above, several recommendations are made as follows:

1. That law enforcement take necessary steps to investigate the case fairly and transparently in order to uncover the mastermind behind the incident.
2. The Maluku provincial government and its related government entities give proper care to the refugees of Dusun Papora who are now in Loki Village, as they have done to the other refugees.