Cover Story
Of Snipers and Seeds
Galala is back to being active in the trading of essential goods. The once warring
community groups-Muslim and Christian-have freely mingled. But remains of charred
buildings, overgrown with wild grass, tell a story of what happened in that Ambon Bay
area.
Galala was totally in disarray in early 2000. Besides being infamous for repeat
burnings and attacks, the area was also known as a favorite location for snipers at
night, targeting those people who were considered enemies.
It was the snipers who were then fought by the doper-anti-sniper sharpshooters. Just
by way of illustration as to how these two groups worked, a mosquito coil would be lit
and attached to the end of a bamboo pole so it would appear as if someone were
smoking a cigarette. When the sniper 'mistakenly' hit the 'smoker', the doper would
shoot back. So far around 80 snipers have been killed, many with heads that were
later severed.
The conflict in Galala has clearly involved military-style combat techniques. That's
why-at least to the warring groups-Galala is a place with special meaning, whose
'alumni' are respected by both groups. The involvement of police and military can also
be easily suspected here.
Obviously the snipers and the dopers are not part of the legal security forces. They
are deserters-soldiers and policemen who went absent without leave (AWOL)-and are
responsible for making the conflicts in Maluku so thoroughly complicated.
Their existence had actually come into being as soon as the first fire of the Ambon
conflict was lit on January 19, 1999. The initial motive of the soldiers and policemen
leaving their duty was to help their families in the violence-wracked villages. For this
purpose they trained the locals to defend their territory themselves. The youths trained
were nicknamed 'agas', after a kind of small mosquito that likes to bite.
Then, after July 1999, came a wave of deserting soldiers and policemen from various
regions outside Maluku. They returned home on the excuse of taking leave or simply
with no reason. Their initial intention was similar: helping their families.
But their presence not only added more fuel to the conflict fire, it also created a new
phase in the matter of weaponry. Previously, only machetes, spears, and arrows were
being used in the battles, but after their arrival, assembled and even organic weapons
have been used.
The conflict anatomy also became more complicated. This was due to a number of
personnel who left their duty to become the so-called Ghost Group-outlawed troops
who took off their unit uniforms and joined the warring groups with official weapons.
Usually these people receive some sort of payment for their service.
Seasonal deserters-fleeing duty only to return later-have also indeed become a trend
in Maluku. These people completely ignored their commanders' reprimands and
punishments, even if they were earnestly given. From this came the nickname 'ruku
seed'-a term given to stubborn people who are difficult to handle. These 'ruku seeds'
are considered heroes by their groups. If it's proven they dare to combat-they can be
promoted to 'commanders'.
Then there are the 'ruku seeds' who are used to mingling with market hoodlums and
robber gangs. From this came so-called crowbar troops, a nickname for criminal
gangs who take advantage of the anarchic situation to rob shopping centers-usually
belonging to ethnic Chinese or Makkasarese migrants.
There is also another type of deserter-those who wreak havoc as they wish. They are
moved by vengeance for family members killed in the conflict. "The intensity and
quality [of the deserters' acts] are on the increase, along with the prolongation of the
conflicts," says Insp. Gen. Firman Gani, former chief of Maluku police who's now chief
of South Sulawesi police. So, all is actually still not well. Bina Bektiati, Tomi Lebang,
Frits Kerlely, Yusnita Tiakoly (Ambon)
