CryIndonesia
East Indonesian Update - May 2002
In this update...
1. Gift of Cows
2. Update on Ambon and Laskar Jihad
3. Some news in Brief
4. Technical notes on the CD and Video
5. Closing comments
Jeff Hammond, IFC, explains the background to this special project:
"In November 2001, the Laskar Jihad army terrorized the Christian villages of
Pantangolemba, Betalemba, Patiwunga, Tangkura, Sangginora and Dewua in the
Poso Pesisir District in Central Sulawesi. During the attacks, using bombs, automatic
rifles and grenades, they first drove the Christians out of their villages, then looted
their homes, sprayed them with kerosene and torched them and then stole all of their
cows. One hundred and sixty-three families in the Poso Pesisir District lost over 300
cows. For a rural community still dependent on ancient and primitive farming
techniques, this was a devastating blow. Cows are essential not only for milk and
meat, but also to pull carts carrying seed, tools and produce, as well as being used to
pull plows through the rice-fields in preparing them for planting."
So during the first week of May, 51 cows were delivered to family representatives from
5 villages in Central Sulawesi. IFC team member Libby Busch, whose family
facilitated the raising of funds for the project, reports that an extra 34 cows were going
to be purchased from additional funds raised, bringing to 85 the number of cows that
were delivered to these victims of religious persecution.
Lots were drawn to see who of the 163 families would be the first to get a cow. Those
who missed out were given a small cash gift and those who received a cow promised
to give their first calf to the families who missed out on a cow this time around.
Before being handed over, the cows were branded with the letters YBI (translates to
'Bless Indonesia Today') and a bible verse was attached! Libby explains and adds a
point for prayer, "These were cards with verses written by the folk in our church [in
Korea]. On the flipside the verse was written in Indonesian. It was then laminated and
hung round the cow's neck or handed to the family member. They were so thrilled to
receive the cows and thanked God for His goodness. We need to pray for the cows to
grow strong and healthy and make lots of calves and that God's word will touch the
hearts of the families."
The last two weeks have been a time of mixed messages concerning the future of the
Laskar Jihad in Ambon, Maluku.
The drama began when Laskar Jihad leader, Jafar Umar Thalib, on April 26 at a
crowded mosque in Ambon, called for war against the Christian community. His
speech included statements such as...
"With this we declare that from this day, (Friday 26/4) Maluku is officially declared to
be a war zone....Prepare an army of war against these enemies with whatever
preparation you can....Prepare the horses of war to carry out war against all your
enemies. Prepare weapons, use what you have to make bombs, spend your money to
ready your weapons. ...let there be no further talk about Malino...From this day on
there will be no more talk of being good to one another, From this day on, what will be
is talk about which districts we have succeeded in occupying. From this day the talk
will be about how many bombs you have made."
Then a few days later the village of Soya was attacked and 14 Christians killed. More
people were killed in further jihad style attacks the following weekend.
Then Jafar Umar Thalib was arrested for 'treason' (i.e. denouncing the Indonesian
President and calling for her relatives to be rounded up and killed) and also charged
for 'inciting violence', specifically provoking the attack on Soya.
This arrest led to large protests by the Laskar Jihad and other radical Islamic groups
within Indonesia but has not led (thankfully) to increased violence in Ambon, however
the air is still very tense. Many doubt that Thalib will remain arrested for long.
Of great concern in all this has been the strong support shown to Thalib by the
Indonesian Vice President, Hamzah Haz, who visited Thalib to express his 'muslim
brotherhood' and then a few days later went a step further and officially opened the
week long Laskar Jihad conference that was being held in Jakarta. Here he responded
to international calls for the Laskar Jihad to be removed from Maluku saying, that
Laskar Jihad should consider pulling out from Maluku but only after all the 'Christian
Separatists' leave (i.e. the RMS and FKM).
The only problem with this notion, is that the Laskar Jihad make no distinction
between the Christians and the separatists. For them it is one and the same group.
So when they say, the LJ will pull out from Maluku only after the separatists leave,
they are demanding nothing less than the removal of the entire Christian community.
This is evidenced by the fact that when LJ attack the 'Christian separatists' they fire
bombs indiscriminately into marketplaces, attack christian villagers whilst they sleep
at night, including stabbing 9 month old babies to death, burn down the Silo church for
the third time and on it goes.
In fact, talk of the RMS Christian separatists by the LJ and their supporters is nothing
more than a pretext for civil war and the islamisation of East Indonesia. Consider
these facts:
-most christians don't support RMS in Maluku, and RMS is not supported by the
churches of Maluku.
- RMS membership has historically included both christians and muslims from the
indigenous Moloccan population.
- The large Muslim separatist movement in Aceh is all but ignored by LJ and yet it is
the strongest independent movement in the country
- North Maluku, has little or no links at all with RMS and yet, for the last three years
has been the target of many of the attacks by LJ and has suffered the worst in terms
of forced islamisation, including forced circumcision of men and women, young and
old.
- despite the rhetoric about guarding Indonesia's sovereignty, LJ, continues to
contravene national Indonesian law by imposing shariah law in regions throughout
Maluku, when in fact the implementation of Shariah is unconstitutional.
Despite the gloom, it does appear that the various authorities within Indonesia are
getting more serious about reigning in the violence in Ambon, Maluku. The military
presence has been strengthened, there has been no further attacks in the last two
weeks, some weapons are being seized, and there seems to be a greater
commitment to disarm and remove groups that provoke trouble.
Please pray for a 'season of peace' to reign in this province and for people's lives to be
healed and rebuilt.
- Elsham News Service reports that 8 Pakistani nationals are among the Laskar Jihad
that are active in military training in Papua. This disturbing trend is continuing in
Papua and needs close monitoring.
- Christian City Church, Oxford Falls this month sent a team to minister among the
refugees of Manado giving special attention to the medical needs facing those in the
camps.
- The Cry Indonesia web site is being constantly updated and has had more than
100,000 hits over the last 6 weeks. Visitors have come from nearly 50 countries
around the world, with the United States leading the web traffic, followed by Australia,
Indonesia and the Netherlands. On the web site you will find further news reports as
well as new photos. Jeff Hammond has given me some great 'cow pics' which we will
add in the next few days.
- The Hearts of Faith CD and Cry Indonesia Video continue to sell well and attract
international attention. Details of international distribution will be available soon.
Leading radio broadcasters, Alan Jones and Dr Gordon Moyes have been among
those featuring the project on their programmes (which incidentally are the highest
rating programs in their time slot, Australia-wide).
The Hearts of Faith CD is primarily an AUDIO CD, but it also has one data file which
is the first song (Maluku Weeping) with an accompanying slide show. So, when you
insert the CD into a computer, the computer reads the data file and ignores the fact
that it is also an audio CD. The only way you can listen to all the tracks on the
computer is to open up your media player on your computer and then select the CD.
It will always default to play the single data file unless you do this. Or simply play it
on your stereo system as a regular audio CD.
The video is not available in American format yet. Stay tuned.
In my contact with those serving among the persecuted church in East Indonesia I
have met some very extraordinary and special people who, at great personal cost to
them and their families, are attending to the many, many practical needs facing the
refugees. Whilst funds that IFC Australia has raised have normally gone to the
emergency and resettlement needs of the refugees I am wanting to give you, over the
next TWO WEEKS the opportunity to make a gift to those who are in the field and
serving among the refugees in order that this vital ministry may continue unhindered. If
you are able to contribute in this way it would be MOST appreciated. All gifts received
in the next two weeks will be for this purpose unless otherwise indicated. See details
below.
Finally, can I encourage you, if you haven't already, to get a copy of the Hearts of
Faith CD and Cry Indonesia video. Endorsed by Sir Cliff Richard and published by the
Barnabas Fund, these professional products are exceptional resources to bring
awareness, empathy, prayer, and understanding. They also raise funds for the
refugees. They are ideal for church meetings, prayer groups, home groups, and
schools.
with you, standing with them
Ian Freestone
IFC, Australia.
http://cryindonesia.rnc.org.au
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news.)
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