A string of sectarian conflicts leave Ambon in ruin

A string of sectarian conflicts has turned much of Ambon into rubble and wrought untold misery on thousands of those who have lost their loved ones and property. The Jakarta Post photographer P.J. Leo visited the island from Feb. 3 through Feb. 10 to observe the latest situation. Following is his report and photos about the aftermath.

AMBON, Maluku (JP): The deadly sectarian conflict that broke out on Jan. 20 has left Ambon and districts on nearby islands in ruin, shattered inter-religious peaceful coexistence and devastated the economy.

More than 100 people have been killed, thousands left homeless and the city and the villages turned to rubble as the rival Muslim and Christian groups also torched shops, markets and places of worship.

As tension is easing, there have been reports of sporadic incidents, and a continuing exodus of migrants from other provinces. Meanwhile, economic activities are painfully slow in recovering.

Thousands of people of all ages who lost their homes are accommodated in military barracks, mosques, churches and other safe havens.

The conflict involves Christians and Muslims from various ethnic groups, Ambonese, Butonese, Bugis and Makassarese. Migrants are mostly from South and Southeast Sulawesi. Many have lost everything -- their homes and jobs and vowed to never return.

Troops are ubiquitous. The shoot-on-the-spot order is still in place for rioters and people carrying weapons in public to deter further unrest. People are seen gathered in certain places such as coffee stalls discussing the tragedy.

"I lost my eldest son in the tragedy," said a woman who refused to reveal her name and ethnicity.

She recalled that the son was out camping with his younger brothers and junior high schoolmates on the tragic day.

"As soon as they left the camping ground, they were intercepted by an angry mob. His younger brothers and friends were saved by people from nearby villages," she said.

"His younger brothers saw him being butchered."

Sad faces were everywhere. People were seen burying the bodies of their relatives and friends. Tension also reigned in islands near Ambon. At nights, people are out to safeguard their neighborhoods for fear of fresh attacks from rival groups while troops patrol the streets.

People taking refuge at heavily guarded places wonder if peace will ever return.

"I will never go back to the village. The house I built from years of toil was destroyed in a trice," said an old man holding his grandchild on his lap in a refuge.

Elderly people who can hardly walk, mothers who had just delivered their babies and children who lost their school buildings are among those put up in the house.

Few shops have reopened. Very few traders have resumed their activities in the rubble of the burned out markets.

"I ventured to reopen my shop because I think the situation is changing for the better," said an ethnic Chinese woman who runs a coffee stall in Ambon.

The stall is always crowded. People may spend hours there although only over a single glass of coffee.

The tragedy's adverse effect on tourism in the Spice Islands, particularly Ambon, is obvious. Unlike in the past, no tourist is visible on the streets of Ambon which is famed for its white sand beaches.

Andre J. Sitanala, general manager of Hotel Mutiara on Jl. Pattimura, Ambon, recounted the panic that gripped his guests on the days when the rival gangs savaged each other in the streets.

"My European and East Asian guests kept asking me how they could get out of the city as soon as possible," he said. "I managed to get them flight tickets after a few days of violence. They flew out to Bali and Jakarta."

Expatriates, mostly Americans, who worked in Ambon also left the war zone for Darwin, chartering Air North aircraft.

Nevertheless, not all people of different religions or ethnicity cut each others' throat in the Ambon tragedy.

Andre, who is Ambonese, said he tried to save anyone terrified and in need of help irrespective of their religion and ethnicity. He would offer shelter in his hotel.

"I ordered them to stay in put in their hotel room. We put them up and gave them food for free for several days," he said. He did not mention how many people he had helped.

Garbage, rubble and burned out buildings are the most obvious sign of devastated life in Ambon. The government bureaucracy remains practically crippled as few have dared to go back to work.

Radio and state-run TV stations in Ambon repeatedly announce employment opportunities for those interested in becoming garbage collectors.

Civil servants are called upon to return to work and bring Ambon back to life.