Indonesia: Twelve Christians Killed in Pre-Dawn Brutal Attack in
Ambon
Christian PersecutionInternational Christian Concern International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Box 941
Washington, D.C. 20006-1846
Tel: (301) 989-1708
Fax: (301) 989-1709 E-Mail: icc@persecution.org
Web: www.persecution.org
REPORT — April 28, 2002
Twelve Christians Killed in Pre-Dawn Brutal Attack in Ambon, Indonesia
Washington, DC April 28, 2002 - At least 12 Christians were brutally murdered and
another 6 were injured during a deadly attack on the village of Soya during the early
morning hours of April 28. The attack on the Protestant Christian Soya village near
Ambon was carried out by armed attackers around 4 am Sunday morning. Black-clad
Muslims "went from house to house, while proclaiming Allah's Greatness, murdering
anybody they could lay hands on, not sparing women and children, including a nine
month old baby that was killed by bullets," according to the Crisis Diocese of
Amboina. Six of the victims were stabbed or shot while another six were burned to
death. The unidentified attackers, believed to be members of the radical Laskar Jihad
Islamic group, also burned down a Protestant church and dozens of Christians' homes
before fleeing the scene.
On April 24, just days before this deadly attack, Laskar Jihad leader, Jafar Umar
Thalib, arrived in Ambon and encouraged Muslims there to make war on the
Christians. The pretext of this attack was the raising of the RMS flag in Ambon. The
RMS, a Christian separatist group with a little over 100 members, celebrated its 52nd
anniversary on April 25 by flying flags and balloons bearing the RMS colors in various
neighborhoods of Ambon. However, RMS leader Alex Manuputty had been arrested
almost a week earlier, on April 17. Mr. Manuputty urged his supporters to "Show
yourselves as brothers with high moral attitude and do not do anything that leads to
anarchy, do not do anything against the law." This stands in stark contrast to Thalib's
directive to attack the Christians.
The Laskar Jihad group has repeatedly denounced the Malino agreement of February
12, 2002, which outlined terms of peace and reconciliation between Christians and
Muslims in war-torn Maluku, and made it clear that they would oppose it by all means
possible. In a press release issued February 14, 2002, the Washington-DC based
human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC), expressed doubt that the
Malino agreement could achieve peace unless provocative groups like the Laskar
Jihad were disbanded. Unfortunately ICC's predictions have proven all too true. An ICC
representative condemned the attack on the Christians of Soya and added that: "It is
the height of hypocrisy that the RMS leader should be arrested on charges of
separatist activity while the head of the Laskar Jihad, who has called for violent
attacks against Christians, is allowed to go free."
ICC is calling for the immediate arrest of Jafar Umar Thalib and other members of the
Laskar Jihad responsible for provoking and perpetrating violence against Christians.
Furthermore, ICC urges Christians everywhere to express their outrage to the
Indonesian government as well as to Secretary of State, Colin Powell. The Indonesian
Embassy may be contacted at the following numbers: 202-775-5200 (telephone) and
202-775-5365 (fax). Secretary Powell may be contacted at 202-647-5291 (telephone)
or 202-261-8577 (fax).
POSTED: April 29, 2002
ICC HOME • Prayer • Reports/News • Country Profiles • What Can I Do? • About
ICC
Free CONCERN Newsletter Subscription | Comments and Suggestions
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves."
International Christian Concern (ICC)
2020 Pennsylvania Avenue NW #941
Washington, D.C. 20006
USA Tel: 1-301-989-1708
Toll Free in USA: 1-800-ICC-5441
Fax: 1-301-989-1709
E-Mail: icc@persecution.org
Web: www.persecution.org
IMPORTANT NOTE: ICC is a registered IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit charity in the United
States of America. Gifts are tax deductible for U. S. tax purposes.
This Page Last Modified: April 30, 2002
Copyright © 2002 International Christian Concern, Washington, D.C., USA. All
rights reserved.
|
