Laksamana.Net, November 22, 2001 09:39 PM
Ambon Gives Peace A Chance
Laksamana.Net - Ambon, the capital of strife-torn Maluku province, has opted for
peace after three years of bloody sectarian unrest that left thousands dead. The
city’s Christians, despite facing a renewal of deadly attacks earlier this month, opted
not to fight violence with violence, thereby winning respect from local Muslims, who
have long been disturbed by carnage being carried out in the name of Islam.
Ambon’s Christian community on Thursday (22/11/01) ended a three-day mass
prayer session, which had been strongly supported by Muslims in the province,
sources said.
The event, described as “a strike for peace”, brought almost all activities in the
coastal city to a standstill, including administrative affairs, schooling and public
transport.
Called hari perkabungan (days of mourning), the prayers were conducted in response
to the sporadic violence, which this month resulted in at least 11 deaths and dozens
of injuries.
The sources said a rare atmosphere of peace and goodwill pervaded Ambon as
citizens showed they were fed up with the communal violence that started back in
January 1999.
The Jakarta Post reported that prayers were staged in all churches, as well as in
many houses and public buildings. Thousands of people from all walks of life took part
in the event.
However, hospital workers and security personnel remained on duty in the event of
any unrest.
The Post said Pattimura Airport in Laha was still operational, but almost all land and
sea transportation firms had temporarily halted services.
"These prayers are a display of concern about all the violence that has taken place
during a relatively calm period in Maluku. In this way we call on all people to assess
themselves and completely put their fate in God's hands. This mourning period is also
a moral movement to forge peace and unity," church official Leo Lohy was quoted as
saying.
Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina and Ambon Mayor M.J. Papilaya gave their full
support to the mass prayer session. "Civil servants are excused from work to join the
prayers... after that they should go back to their daily routines," said the governor.
The province had been relatively peaceful over recent months until November 3 when
gunmen raided and occupied the predominantly Christian village of Waimulang village
in Seram Islands, killing at least three villagers. An estimated 1,000 residents fled as
the rioters burned down 150 houses.
Later in the month another eight people died in separate incidents, when a speedboat
was shot at and a bomb exploded at an electronics store.
Copyright © 2000 Laksamana.net, All Rights Reserved.
|
