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Thousands of Christians in the Moluccas islands of eastern Indonesia have been forced
by Islamic militants to convert to Islam or have been given deadlines by which they must
convert or be killed. Disturbing reports by the Moluccan Christian human rights group, the
Masariku network, indicate that thousands of Christians in Bacan in northern Moluccas
have been forced to change their religion to Islam. In a letter dated 3rd September this
year, one of the church leaders from Bacan reported that 2 weeks beforehand 1,150
Christian youths and children were circumcised as part of their forced conversion (under
the tenets of the Islamic religion, Muslim males have to be circumcised). Thousands
have been forcibly converted to Islam and an ultimatum has been given that those
Christians who do not convert by December 31st this year will be killed. One of the
Christian pastors in Bacan, Rev. Pattiasina, was caught by Islamic militants who tortured
and killed him.
Since July 5th this year, 60 Christian families in Jibubu village were forced to convert to
Islam. This took place after they were forced to leave their hiding places in the forest
because of lack of food. The letter from the Christian leader appeals for prayers and
support from Christians around the world and to pray for Christians in Bacan that they
may overcome these difficulties and that Christianity will continue to survive in that area.
Forced conversions have been taking place in other parts of the Moluccas as well. In
West Seram, about 400 Christians from Hatu village and 300 from Hatumete were told by
Islamic militants that they had until 31st November 2000 to convert to Islam or be killed.
It is estimated that 75% of the 700 Christians have already signed agreements to change
their religion. Those who have agreed are forced to learn the Muslim holy book, the
Koran, and perform the Islamic prayers five times a day. Those who have refused to
change religion have no choice but to flee into the forests to hide, where they run the risk
of dying from starvation or exposure.
Since January 1999, Muslim-Christian conflict in the Moluccas has resulted in about
5000 deaths and 300,000 people being internally displaced. With the influx of thousands
of Islamic militants from outside the Moluccas and the collusion of elements of the
Indonesian military, the Muslims have managed to capture many Christian areas where
they have often told the Christians under their control to convert to Islam or be killed.
Recently there have been repeated Muslim attacks against remaining pockets of
Christians in Ambon island and in Halmahera. This appears to be an attempt to
exterminate what's left of the Christian presence in these areas.
Christians in Halmahera and Ambon are worried about a possible large Muslim offensive
around Christmas. This follows threats by Islamic militants that there will be no church
bells ringing on Christmas day. In anticipation of such an attack, Christians in Halmahera
are celebrating Christmas earlier this year.
Jubilee Campaign has been campaigning for U.N peacekeepers to be sent to the
Moluccas and for the British government to impose an arms embargo on Indonesia until a
just peace is brought about in the Moluccas. Wilfred Wong, Jubilee Campaign's
Parliamentary Officer, says, " The situation for Christians in the Moluccas is simply
appalling. The Islamic militants are determined to kill, forcibly convert or drive out all the
Moluccan Christians, thereby wiping out the Christian community in the Moluccas
islands. The Indonesian military is generally colluding with these militants and does
nothing to stop these mass forced conversions. If the Islamic fighters succeed in
Islamicising the Moluccas by force, they are likely to use these ruthless tactics in other
Indonesian provinces with large Christian communities, such as North Sulawesi or West
Timor since their ultimate goal is to Islamicise Indonesia as a whole. The Christians of
the Moluccas are being put through a trial by fire and really need our prayers and action."
If you would like to take action to help Moluccan Christians, write to: Wilfred Wong, c/o
Ian Bruce MP, Room 201, Norman Shaw South, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A
2HZ.
For further information you can contact Wilfred Wong on 020 7219 5129.
Jubilee Campaign is an interdenominational Christian human rights organisation which
has worked with over 150 British Parliamentarians in campaigning on human rights
issues in many countries around the world, including Egypt, Sudan, Pakistan, Mongolia,
Vietnam, Laos, India, Brazil and Guatemala. |
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