CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA
Jalan Pattimura 32 -- Ambon 97124 -- Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337
E-mail: crisiscentre01@hotmail.com
Ambon, February 5, 2003
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS - Report No. 352
Reacting to the threat of possible war being waged on Iraq, the religious leaders of
Muslims, Protestants and Catholics sent out the following appeal to world leaders:
CALL FOR PEACE
by The Religious Leaders of the Moluccas, Indonesia
Social strife, together with grueling events of criminality and savagery towards human
beings have tormented our region for four years. It was generally the common,
innocent people that had to bear its horrible consequences of agony and utmost
suffering. In the wake of this terrible experience we, the religious leaders of the
Moluccas, most honestly want to proffer our standpoint and concern in relation to the
latest development in the Persian Gulf area:
1. God Almighty made man as His supreme and most precious creature, providing
him a rich array of possibilities and capacities. Thus man is called to accommodate
himself one to another, acknowledging equality and living in harmony.
2. Existing differences are not meant to effectuate the determination to wipe out one
another, but – on the contrary – to establish contact and dialogue with one another
and mutually beneficial cooperation.
3. Every nation on this earth has the right to live in peace and welfare, thus must not
be played down becoming victim of any other nation's aspirations for whatever reason.
4. Civilized nations solve any internal or external crisis by way of dialogue and not by
choosing the way of war and violence.
5. Any war and any acts of violence gravely damage humanity, milieu, and civilization.
All of this will have its impact not only on those that are directly involved in the strife,
but will seriously harm global harmony and stability.
Based on this perception, we send out this appeal to the Government of the United
States of America with its Allies, and to the Iraqi Government:
One To stop without delay any effort which is aimed at war and violence.
Two To enhance renewed efforts to come to sincere dialogue as the only decent and
befitting way to come to a solution.
Three To acknowledge everybody's basic human rights as God's most precious
creatures.
Four To prefer love, peace and justice to any political, economic and military
considerations.
Five To entrust it wholly to the United Nations as the representation of all nations to
find a just and peaceable solution.
May the Almighty God, who is the source of all grace and blessing, bestow His
prudence and wisdom on all involved parties to reflect on this our appeal for peace.
Ambon, February 4, 2003
MUI and BIMM, Province of the Moluccas
(signed) Uztad Hadji Abd. Wahab Polpoke, Chairman / Ir. M. Nazir Rahawarin,
Secretary
Catholic Church / Diocese of Amboina,
(signed) Msgr. P.C. Mandagi MSC, bishop
Moluccas Protestant Church / Synod Secretariate
(signed) Dr. I.W.J. Hendriks, Chairman / S.J. Mailoa, M.Th., Secretary General
(translated and reported by C.J.Böhm msc, Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina)
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
