HTML pages designed & maintained by Alifuru67 Copyright © 1999/2000 - 1364283024 & 1367286044		Want to Help? CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA Jalan Pattimura 32 - Ambon 97124 - Indonesia Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337 E-mail: compro@ambon.wasantara.net.id Ambon, March 24, 2001 (2nd report today) THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 154 1. MISINFORMATION BY LASKAR JIHAD COMMUNICATION FORUM Last Thursday, March 22, the deceased christian leader Agus Wattimena was buried. The burial was attended not only by many common people, but also by representatives of the chief commanders of the military and police forces. In honour of the deceased leader, there were salvos of gunfire. Next day the Laskar Jihad Communication Forum at Yogyakarta in one of its regular e-mail bulletins reported on what happened after the burial: The RMS dissidents attacked the military forces in the villages of Kudamati and Batugantung, Ambon& Making use of molotov cocktails and organic weaponry, these agitators spouted numerous fusillades towards the military forces, starting at 5.00 pm up to 6.30 pm. Being thus assaulted by these insurgents, the military responded by even more powerful gunfire&etc. We just want to ask: when will this unholy twisting of facts by this Communication Forum stop? For in fact that afternoon not any shot was fired except firing in the air in honour of a hero. 2. LETTER TO CHRISTINA SAGAT C.S. We received by e-mail an open letter from a Miriam Abdulah to a Christina Sagat c.s. part of which we will try to translate from Indonesian into English. First some explanation. Christina Sagat is a catholic woman from the island of Kesui (or: Keswui). During the last week of November 2000, local moslem jihads, coming from the island of Gorong (or: Gorom) and from elsewhere launched a surprise attack on the christians on the tiny island of Kesui, south-east of Ceram. Since the christians had nowhere to flee to, all of them were rounded up and forced to become islam. Both males and females were circumcised, totalling about a thousand people. Reports on it can be found in our earlier reports, starting at Report no. 96, November 25, 2000. Dear Sister of mine, Christina Sagat and Friends, How sad I felt on learning that in these modern times there are still people being forced and threatened not only to abjure their faith but also to follow a faith which is not according to their belief. Adding to my sadness was the fact that this coercion was carried out by my islam brothers (Laskar Jihad) towards their own fellow Indonesians. In fact, I had already learned these rumours quite some time before, but I simply did not believe them, for my mind, like many other moslems minds have been indoctrinated with the allegation that it is the christians who always carry out christianisation, whereas we, moslems, never do any islamizing. Our big mistake is that we always regard the christians in historical perspective as if the christians never change and never can perceive that human existence and circumstances have become more and more diverse. However, this rumour about Islamisation under pressure became a topic which was talked about in the parliaments of England and the USA, in the UNO and in Australia. And specifically some moslem friends of mine succeeded in convincing me that this forced islamisation was not just a rumour but a fact. So I felt very rueful, and most moslems felt the same way. Up to now we not voiced our regret. But this does not mean that we agree to these practices. We just feel sad and ashamed. Faced with this situation we do not know what to say, especially what to say to you. We feel so utterly sorry that this had to befall to you and your friends and relatives&. I hope and I pray that the MUI [Majelis Ulama Indonesia leading Moslem Board] will have the humility to speak up and will apologize to you and your fellow-christians in the name of us, the moslem community. However, this letter of mine will hardly influence them to take such step. But I am convinced that a lot of moslems in Indonesia with heart and soul wish to apologize to you for what has been done to you by the trickery of a small minority of ours in forcing you to forswear your faith. Bluntly spoken, this forced islamisation is done based on the perception of some of us who have the utopian conviction that, if the whole of Indonesia becomes islam, Indonesia will become a disciplined country without any unrest. Apparently there are among us who close their eyes on what was and is happening in countries like Iran or even Afghanistan: instead of peace, there is chaos and despotism there. Of course it is not the Islam as a religion which is to blame, but certain people s interpretation of the Islam, because of their craving for power and using the Islam to serve their purpose& I hope and I pray that you, my sister Christina, will not be haunted by selfdeprecation and feelings of guilt because of the renouncing of your faith. I am sure that Allah in Whom we believe as the Allmerciful, Who is full of Love, will forgive you your renouncement which you did under pressure. The sin is not on you, but on those who forced you to do this and who threatened your life... Allah still has a sufficient amount of forgiveness in stock for you. [ Miriam goes on explaining rather extensively that any forced islamisation is very contrary to islam teaching. Islam teaches that moslems should respect Jews and Christians, because it is also by them that Allah reveals Himself. Ibrahim is our common forefather in the faith. And Nabi Isa the Prophet Jesus plays a central role in the Islam ]. I know that these words of regretfulness will not sufficiently heal the suffering you had/have to endure, but I am convinced of your magnanimity by which you will be able to forgive& - Your sister, Mirian Abdulah Note: Next Tuesday Christina will leave for Jakarta together with some other islamized christians from several other islands, to give testimony. Likewise some islam victims will give testimony on their being christianized (this accusation has never been acknowledged by Church officials). C.J.Böhm MSc, Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina Received via e-mail from : Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina Copyright © 1999-2001  - Ambon Berdarah On-Line * http://www.go.to/ambon HTML pages designed and maintained by Alifuru67 * http://www.oocities.org/maluku67 Send your comments to alifuru67@egroups.com