A call for jihad was heard echoing in this holy month of Ramadan as a clash broke out between Muslim mujahideen and Christian mass concentrating at Tugu Trikora and Baru Street, in the city of Ambon. The incident started when, at 17.40 WIT (East Indonesia Time), a DE694-numbered car driven by a Christian hit a Muslim youth Fauzan Sarijan, aged 13, who was riding a motorbike in front of Tugu Trikora. The body of the second grade student at Muhammadiyyah Junior High School, Ambon was abandoned while the culprit, believed to have come from Kudamati, drove the car away. A marine soldier Sergeant Suhadi who was on the spot came to the rescue immediately, and took the death victim to the Ambon Military Hospital (RST).

According to some local people, the victim’s parent wanted to get their son’s body returned. Sergeant Suhadi, claiming no responsibility for collecting the body, refused to accompany the parent as he went to the Military Hospital to pick up their death son. Having learnt that the body was not there, he proceeded to the Public Hospital. But it was not there either.

Starting at 18.00 until 18.15 WIT, Muslim and Christian masses were facing one another while tens of peacekeeping soldiers were blocking the front street of Tugu Trikora, Antony Reebok and AM Sangaji Streets. Gunfire from the troops was heard one after another. The Muslims who were gathering along Sultan Babullah Street and in front of Al-Fatah grand mosque had armed themselves with sword-like traditional weapons, ready for enemy attack. As Maghrib time was approaching, some of them retreated to the mosque which was located some 300 meters away to break their Ramadan fast and perform Maghrib prayer.

At 19.00 WIT after Maghrib prayer, the blasting sound of bombs thrown by the Christians was heard a couple of times. The troops retaliated by opening fire. Muslim mujahideen then rushed towards the meeting point of Baru and Pohon Streets. Some of them stationed in front of Simpang shop and Al-Fatah mosque. Bomb explosions and gun shooting from the Christian side who were well armed forced the mujahideen to take shelter behind the walls of the nearby houses. Four Muslims and four security troops from marine force unit were hurt by the attack. The casualty from the Christian side was not known.

Some eyewitnesses said that Christian militia hiding above at a three-storeyed building shot the soldiers. The militia wore fake marine force uniforms and carried organic weapons. This was supported by previous finding on 16 December 1999 when a set of fake marine force uniforms and hundreds of ammunitions being smuggled into Ambon were confiscated from three Christian passengers boarding KM Dobonsolo.

At 22.00 WIT, the mujahideens, carrying Molotov and hand-made bombs as well as swords, went forward. A Molotov bomb was thrown to a building beside Silo Church, causing the building, which is facing Tugu Trikora, engulfed by the fire. Gunfire from the security forces and explosions of hand-made bombs were continuously raging that night. The warring parties were confronting each other until dawn, i.e. around 03.00 WIT on Sunday, 27 December 1999.

At 04.00 WIT the fire flame started moving slowly to the neighbouring Silo church. Gunshots from the troops and hand-made bomb explosions were still heard every minute.

At 10.00 WIT, some shops and more than ten buildings standing along Antony Reebok and Colonel Pieters Streets owned by Christians were burnt down, the black smoke released darkened the sky above Ambon. The increasing number of Muslim’s casualty did not prevent some mujahideen groups from Geser post from advancing towards the enemy. At the same time Takbir were yelled from Al-Fatah mosque. The tension between the two opposing sides were escalating, the shooting from the troops aimed at both sides were getting fiercer.

At 10.30 WIT, the tension also built up along Waihaong-Talake Dalam border. Two-armed Christian managed to slip into a multi storeyed building and from there they were shooting the Muslims at the border area. The security forces stationed around this area fired back at the snipers. The gunfire exchange lasted for 15 minutes with no casualty reported. The snipers run away quickly when two soldiers from marine forces unit were chasing them.

At 13.00 WIT, a Muslim mob, some of whom concentrated in front of simpang shop, burnt down the shops owned by Christians along Ay Pattu Road.

At 13.30 WIT, Christian mass living in Kudamati and its surrounding area, carried out arson attack on already vacated Muslims’ houses in Kramat Jaya, including institution and school buildings. Its inhabitants had already deserted houses when the violence hit the village in July and August 1999.

Until 16.00, the Muslim side have lost 21 lives whilst 60 were injured. Almost all the casualty was due to gunfire from the security forces. All the victims were treated in the already packed Al-Fatah hospital. Tens of patients were inadequately treated due to lack of medicines.

At 17.00-19.00 WIT

A group of people from Galela and Halong villages were attacking residential area within STAIN complex. Arm clash broke up in the bordering region. The security troops from marine force unit who has been guarding the campus, held up the advancing attackers. Five Christian attackers were shot dead by the troops whereas no casualty was reported from the Muslim side. The defence in the campus was strengthened by Muslim residents around the campus. The conflict continued until 10.00 WIT.

At 01.30 – 05.00 WIT

Tense atmosphere was still covering Baru Street/Pohon Pule and Wahaong-Talahe bordering region. Gunshots were still heard consecutively.

At 2.00 WIT, hand-made TNT bombs were thrown by some Christians and exploded near a post of marine force units. The forces retaliated by shooting the attackers. The tension still remained this morning in Baru Street, bomb throwing and gun firing showed no sign of stopping.

Reports from Maluku accounted that since yesterday, after informed about the bloody violence in Tobelo, where Muslims were attacked and their houses burnt, a number of Muslims from Ternate wanted to help their brethren in Tobelo. However, when they were going to the port for Tobelo, they were held up by the sultan yellow soldiers. The clash between the two was unavoided and subsequently spread across Ternate. The yellow soldiers carried out arson attacks to houses belonging to Muslims in North Ternate, including two mosques. Until today, the situation around the city of Ternate was dreadful.

The scope of the violence, which was originally limited around the city of Ambon, later on spread across the suburb regions. At 10.00 WIT, Muslims from Waiheru set the houses belonging to Christians in Durian Patah on fire. The flame was seen clearly from the city of Ambon. Over ten houses were burnt.

Christian residents in Ponegoro started burning houses belonging to the Muslims. The fire forced the occupants, escorted by security troops, to flee. The smoke was still seen until Wednesday morning.

At 16.00 WIT, a Christian mob in Galela were provoking Muslims by burning a Muslim-owned timber shop beside the Galela bridge. Although no fighting occurred, the security troops deployed at the area opened fire to the agitating Christian mass. Three Christian were reported to have been shot while no Muslim was hurt.

At 18.00 WIT, gunshots were heard from Christian snipers hiding on the third floor of PLN (National Electricity Company) building and on the border region of Talahe-Waihaong, A Muslim youth who was riding a motorbike fell a victim. Snipers also carried their actions in Talaka. Jafar Makatita, the chairman of logistic division of Keadilan Post, was in front of Keadilan Post when he was almost shot. A car parked just outside got its front glass screen broken up after hit by the sniper’s bullet.

Until last night, the situation was still far from calm. The gunfire and bomb explosion were still heard while the smoke from the burning buildings was still visible. The fighting was not balance in term of fighting tools. Muslims’ weaponry was less sophisticated than Christians’. The condition was worsened by the number of mujahideen which was decreasing since more and more of them were either killed or injured.

Muslims mass were found concentrating in front of Al-Fatah mosque, Baru Street and Soabali. Some of the mujahideen stationed in Waihaong-Talake border.

The Christians showed their unparalleled barbarity when they captured ten security forces from 733 BS Ambon unit in OSM Ambon. They killed two of them while returning the remaining seven to Kodam 17 Pattimura. One of the captive managed to flee.

Alimudin Mora of Justice Party, Talake Branch, was martyred during the Monday bloodshed.