THE BRUTALITY OF THE CHRISTIAN REBELS

The Fall Of Iha Village

This is a real event in the arena of jihad. A Laskar Jihad of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah who was seconded to the community of Iha personally witnessed the brutality of the Christian rebels. This documentation is a proof of the malignancy of the Christian villagers residing around the Muslim village, Iha.

Ambon, Laskarjihad.or.id (04/04/2001)

Friday, 22nd September 2000

At that time, the watch showed that it was 11:00 o'clock in the morning, local time. Through the fishing port of Tulehu, I departed heading for Iha Village, Saparua Island. Iha Village was one of the three Muslim villages in Saparua Island. It was not that big. Only twice the size of a football pitch, thus was approximately how big it was.

Such a small village was inhabited by 700 people. I went with a group comprising of a team of Laskar (soldiers) Jihad of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah, seven natives of Iha who domiciled in Ambon and some people of Kailolo who originated from Haruku Island.

On our departure, me and my entourage had been delayed for a while. That was due to the fact that the fishing port of Tulehu was strictly guarded by the security apparatuses. So tight was the security that I and some people in the entourage had become really tense. The strictness of the security was related to several incidents that happened the day before in the area of Siri Sori (Muslims'), Seram Island, where there were tensions between the Muslim and Christian communities. Whereas, the fishing port of Tulehu was a port in Ambon Island which was normally used for hopping to other islands in the northern part of Ambon Island.

Tension was increasing rapidly when the speedboat we were traveling in was about to pass by another speedboat coming from the front. We thought the speedboat was owned by the obets (reference to Christians in the Maluku). After drawing nearer, it turned out that the speedboat belonged to the Muslims. The tension then subsided, the speedboat that was suspected as belonging to the obets was apparently transporting victims of war.

Several hundred meters before hitting the shore of Iha Village, Saparua Island, clouds of billowing smoke could be seen. An indication of how the animosity of the Christian terrorists had reached its peak. They had been carrying out the annihilation of the Muslim community. An onslaught was definitely underway.

We were then instructed by our commander so that we would be prepared for any possibility that might happen. "When you see the beach, you guys get ready," he commanded. It was then, when the tension mounted that suddenly the speedboat driver spoke to me, "Brother Laskar, give me some amulets." "We never wear amulets. We just put our trust (tawakkal) in Allah," I replied while trying to assure him.

Not long after that, our conversation stopped. The speedboat we were riding in was under heavy fire from the Christian mainland. Apparently, our arrival had been known by the Christian party. Bullets were scattered in our direction. The atmosphere was getting increasingly tense. The speedboat got shot at last. Bullets were piercing the walls of the speedboat and straight away hit the jerry can containing petrol. The flammable liquid flowed and spread.

Despite being greeted by a whirring sound of guns, alhamdulillah, we finally managed to get close to the shore. The tide at that time was low, so we could not directly enter Iha Village. We had to anchor our speedboats further away in the ocean and closer to the Christian village of Ihamahu. Quickly, the team rushed out of the speedboat.

Apparently, the attacks were getting more frequent, in fact they came from two directions. From the south of Iha Village i.e from the Christian village of Noloth, we were being fired at with organic rifles. And from the north i.e. the Christian village of Ihamahu, evidently their raids were much more powerful from here. This obet's village was directly adjacent to the Muslim village of Iha.

Before all the passengers could get off, the driver of the speedboat got his right thigh hit by a bullet, while one of his crews was shot on the shoulder. Two men from the Laskar Jihad of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah also became victims of the RMS (South Moluccan Republic ) Christian's brutality. Both were shot on the palm of the hand. The sporadic attacks made some of us jump into the sea.

We were forced to get close to the mainland by swimming. When we reached the mainland we tried to enter Iha Village by creeping. Some were running as hard as they could. Not all the logistics and equipments that we had brought from Ambon could be brought to shore. Some had to be left in the speedboat. The atmosphere at that time was so tense.

Along with the fell of victims on our side, we went through the landings in Iha Village. No wonder when later the community of Iha Village greeted our arrival in a hysterical manner. Feeling of tense, anxious but happy (because of the arrival of jihad warriors) intermixed inside the breasts of the community of Iha Village. The beautiful pleasure of conducting ukhuwah (Islamic brotherhood) was really felt at that time, at such a critical condition and moment, when ones are shoulder to shoulder in helping each other to fight and defend the honor of religion against the savagery of the RMS Christians.

Not long after that, we could take a short break. Our fatigue then began to disappear little. Though we had not yet entirely recovered, we must immediately accomplish our next task. That same night we, along with the community of Iha were on guard in various corners of the village's borders. The breeze from the sea was blowing, teasing the night that wore on. The pounding of the successive waves followed. Stillness crept to every corner of the village that night. Yet occasionally, the barking sound of guns could be heard from the direction of the borders. We spent that night with great anticipation and expectation, anticipating all possibilities that might happen.

Saturday, 23rd September 2000

The Christian parties unleashed a dawn attack. From the southeast of the village, the direction closest to the border of Iha Village, they carried out an onslaught. The same goes with the direction from the north of the village. They kept on shooting at the Muslim community. Nevertheless, they did not dare to approach. Momentarily, they halted their fire after several gunshots from the direction of TNI AL (Indonesian Navy Forces) ship were launched which was precisely in front of Iha Village.

It was in such a critical situation that we consulted with the community of Iha Village, to decide whether we should withdraw or remain to defend the village. This was done remembering the disproportion in the manpower and strength. However, the result of the consultation stipulated that the village should be defended.

Until 14:00 hour, the atmosphere was still relatively calm. There was no attack. After 14:00 hour, the RMS Christians moved to launch attacks. This time the attack was carried out very intensively and ferociously. Clouds of smoke from Iha Village started to envelop the surroundings of the village. The blazing flames kept on spreading until the Maghrib time, while the ammunitions used for fighting were decreasing with times.

At last, the enemies managed to break through the defense of the village. The sound of trumpets were heard coming from the north, it happened after 'Isha. Until midnight, the battle raged on. They even managed to blow up the mosque with bombs. Then, the community decided to get out of Iha Village. Some members of the Laskar Jihad of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah continued to fight.

When the people were flocking to leave Iha Village, the security forces did not escort or provide protection for the evacuation, in the end, some members of the Laskar Jihad had to do the escort and protection themselves. The strength for survival started to dwindle. After all the residents were successfully evacuated from Iha Village, we gradually withdrew.

However, the RMS Christian rioters still do not dare to cross the road that cuts through the village. On the coast, a portion of the population had been successfully loaded onto the Navy ship. Some others were still looking for relatives who were scattered and carried by the ocean currents. The cries of children were so heartbreaking. The waves were pounding on the Muslim population who were forced to leave their village.

In such conditions, awkwardness on the part of the TNI (National Armed Forces of Indonesia) was clearly visible. Amongst the awkwardness was the lack of security assistance to evict and stop the dawn attacks by the RMS Christians.

With pieces of wood, we went to sea. Trying to reach the Navy ship that was on standby at sea to accommodate the villagers from Iha Village. The members of the Laskar Jihad of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah, as they retreated toward the Navy ship, continued to monitor the rate of enemy movement. Only our heads were visible in the middle of sea. While our eyes were now staring at the village of the Muslims that we were forced to abandon. At that time, there was no other hope except for the help from Allah Ta'ala. We relied (tawakkal) on Him only.

After two hours soaking in the ocean, the Navy rubber boat came to pick us up. We all survived, except for one member of the Laskar Jihad squad who was forced to return to the mainland because there was a grandmother who was still left in the village. The tense atmosphere was increasingly threatening. The RMS Christian rioters' movement was getting more aggressive when they approached the village.

It was unfortunate that the attitude of the TNI AL and the combined battalions (Yon Gab) assigned to the area, did not do much to help. They were only silent like stones. No shot was fired at the direction of the rioters, resulting in the Muslim community being expelled from their hometown after trying to defend their honor like warriors. Hence, Iha Village fell.

The number of casualties on the Muslims' side was only 10 people, one of them was a member of the Brimob. Including two victims who were burned alive by the RMS Christians terrorists in the masjid where those two men were trapped earlier. Whereas, the number of Christian casualties, as intercepted through the handy talkie that we could monitor, was said to be 1300 people. The Christian camps set this combat incident in Iha Village as the days of mourning for one whole month.

We were then sailing on the TNI AL ship along with the villagers of Iha Village. The cynical attitudes and behaviors of the TNI AL apparatuses made the feelings of unsympathy buried in the heart. The confinement in the lavatory of the Navy ship was a form of uncivilized treatment by the apparatuses. It was indicated on the fall of Iha village.