HTML pages designed & maintained by Alifuru67 Copyright © 1999/2000 - 1364283024 & 1367286044		Ambon Island   Ambon City        Latupatti   Want to Help? War in the Malukus is anything but holy Letters to the Sydney Morning Herald 30/01/2001 Having just returned from being among the Malukan refugees, I can verify that the events you reported ("Brutal religious war leaves a paradise soaked in blood", Herald, January 27) are by no means exaggerated. Of equal concern is that their cry seems to have gone ignored. The continuing conflict in Maluku is as a direct result of extremists (supported by elements of the military) who have manipulated and funded an armed "holy war" against the Christian population. These extremists have a radical political agenda for the whole of Indonesia and are using Maluku to further their ends. The destruction inflicted by "jihad warriors" has been systematic and extensive. There are many villages in which the Christian population has been entirely eradicated. Periodic Christian retaliation has occurred but this is more than just local Muslim-Christian rivalry. It is, in fact, a carefully scripted agenda in which the Malukan people are being both manipulated and horribly abused. The international community is still largely unaware of the plight of the Malukans and the silent response from the Australian Government has been deafening. Pastor Ian Freestone, Maluku Support Project, Manly, January 28. Two articles in Saturday's Herald highlighted the problems of religious tolerance. On the front page, we read of Muslims and Christians attacking each other in the Maluku Islands. Later, the French Government is concerned that a large number of religious groups are guilty of "mental manipulation". As someone who regularly visits other countries working on drugs and HIV/AIDS problems, I have seen many instances of good work carried out by religious groups. But I have also seen good reason for the alarm expressed by the French authorities. I have seen forcible detention of drug addicts in inhuman conditions by organisations run by Catholic priests in India. I have talked to Muslim clerics in Malaysia who say it is Allah's will that drug users die from AIDS. I have seen zealous missionaries flying into Russia and Ukraine from the United States determined to overthrow Russian Orthodox Christianity and proselytise their own "brand". Yes, there is and must remain a clear right to religious freedom, especially in terms of thought. But when "religious" action means forced female circumcision, murder, forced detention, death by neglect and brainwashing, we need to ask whether this is religious freedom or criminal behaviour. Dave Burrows, Marrickville, January 28. The most vile and abhorrent act must be female circumcision in the name of religion, happening on our doorstep in Ambon. I hate war, but, in this instance, where do I join up? Alastair Browne, Cromer Heights, January 29. Received via email from: Alifuru67@egroups.com 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