Two Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel stood watch at the junction of Ambon’s Kostrad Monument, on the first day of August. Holding AK-47 assault rifles—their fingers held the trigger, ready to fire.

At another part of the junction, six military personnel from the Pattimura Military Command, were also on full alert. There was no war. They were simply guarding the routes through which government officials would pass. Not long afterwards