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, February 27, 2001 THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS Report no. 142 1. INVOLVEMENT OF CATHOLICS IN THE CONFLICT We read on Masariku Network, Digest Number 314, about investigation on religious persecution in Indonesia by a panel of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom on February 13, 2001. Among the witnesses there were two influential speakers from Indonesia originally from the Moluccas who presented clarifications on the conflict in the Moluccas: Professor John Titaley christian said among other things: The emergence of religious feelings which have encouraged the slaughtering of pastors and the burning down of church buildings . . . are seen as systematic attempts to eliminate historical records of Christianity in Maluku and Ambon in particular . Showing photographs of victims he has interviewed, Titaley told the commissioners about forced conversions to Islam and forced circumcisions of Christian men and women. However, the other representative, Mr. Jusuf Ely, chairman of the Jaziratul Muluk Muslim organisation in Ambon, insisted that the conflict is not a religious war. He said litterally: The conflict is involving Muslim and Christian Protestant only, but not with Christian Catholic. The provocateurs use the religion issues and local value issues to blow up the conflict. This is where we being catholics strongly protest. Though of course not meant to put forward a divide et impera insinuation, nevertheless such statement is apt to endanger christian unity in the Moluccas. About 90% of the catholics in the Central and North Moluccas are transmigrants from the S.E.Moluccas (Kei, Tanimbar, Aru), and also from the island of Flores and elsewhere; so they initially just stood aside wondering what afwul things were happening here. They even led by their bishop Msgr. P.C.Mandagi initially played an import role in reconciliation efforts. But it soon became apparent that they were the target of the moslems no less than the protestants. An example: though constituting a mere 5% of the population of both Moluccas Provinces, they saw 60 of their church buildings destroyed; whereas the protestants more than 40% of the population had only 120 church buildings destroyed. We will be glad to provide more detailed information on this subject when asked to. 2. PROVOCATION According to Suara Maluku newspaper, a speech by Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama ah leader Jaffar Umar Thalib was broadcasted on local Al-Fatah moslem radio at 8.00 9.00 hrs.AM on January 26. Though not provocative to the same extent as his famous lecture in the Al-Fatah Mosque on September 3rd, 2001, nevertheless again he accused the Moluccas Protestant Church (GPM) and the Bishop of Amboina of trying to protract the conflict, hereby cooperating with the military and police forces with as ultimate goal: the annihilation of the moslems in the Moluccas. Commenting on Jaffar Umar Thalib s accusations, protestant minister I.D.Toisuta said that for the Moluccans themselves, being used to such unrealistic rhetorics, speeches like these do not have much influence. But when heard and spread outside the Moluccas, these words might induce unrest elsewhere. Likewise the regular bulletins that are being e-mailed by the Forum Komunikasi Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama ah at Yogyakarta, usually contort the facts, and relentlessly keep accusing the christians in the Moluccas of RMS and separatist aspirations. Also any arising conflict, even the latest assault on Alang Asaude according to this Forum is in some way or other caused by the christians. We are happy to see that in Ambon itself moslems grow in eagerness to come to sincere reconciliation. 3. MOSLEMS WANT RECONCILIATION Recently a Musyawarah Umat Islam (Islam Community Meeting) was held in Ambon. Mr. Hasbullah Toisutta from the Islam Religion Academy (STAIN = Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Negeri) at Ambon declared to Siwalima newspaper that this meeting was focused on internal consolidation in order to come to a process of reconciliation. The Moluccan Moslem Community wants to rebuild the Moluccas physically but also to learn again living together in peace with others, who are of different religion or etnic lineage, as Indonesian citizens. He said that these meetings will be continued in the hope that some time both conflicting parties may meet and convene holding a musyawarah basudara rakyat Maluku (meeting of Moluccan brothers). He hoped that both sides in organizing such meetings will come to common perception of the situation and will put aside any mutual mistrust.  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