HTML pages designed & maintained by Alifuru67 Copyright © 1999/2000 - 1364283024 & 1367286044		Ambon Island   Ambon City         Want to Help? DIOCESE OF AMBOINA Jalan Pattimura 26 – AMBON 97124 – Indonesia Tel 0062-(0)911-344231 Fax 0062-(0)911-352556 Email keus_ab@ambon.wasantara.net.id SOS APPEAL to the right honored Secretary General of the United Nations and Heads and Ambassadors of with Indonesia befriended Nations The conflict in the Moluccas has been going on for one year and eleven months now. We herewith would invite Your Excellencies to consider with us what we have found as clearly proved in connection with this unrest: From the very start of the conflict up to now many law violations have taken place, both violations of human rights and violations of civil law, both by the local population and by government authorities and institutions. There have been countless acts of savagery, depravedness and criminality, such as torturing, raping of women and other sexual abuse, persecution, slaughtering, looting and destroying of property – all of which carried out by the adherents of religious majorities towards the adherents of religious minorities. Most of the victims are just simple people, who are poor and defenseless, innocent and blameless. Only recently became widely known the fact of immense and dramatic islamisation of christians, both by brutal force and by leaving them no choice. This happened among others on the islands of Buru and East Ceram and – most recently – on the tiny islands of Kasui and Teor. On the island of Kasui, of the 692 catholics, it has been ascertained that at least 473 are still alive and have been islamised. Nothing is known about the fate of the other 219 christian residents: where they are, whether they are still alive, whether they are still catholics or have already become muslims. On the island of Teor, of the 841 catholics, 142 have already been islamised, about 300 have succeeded to flee to the island of Kei Kecil, whereas the remaining 400 still hold out on Teor. So of the 1.533 catholics on the islands of Kasui and Teor, 615 have been forced to become islam or preferred becoming islam to losing their lives. There are on these islands also hundreds of protestant christians who have become islam in the same way. These people urgently need to be freed and to be evacuated from Kasui and Teor. The Indonesian government, both in Jakarta and in the Moluccas, has proved not to be able to put an end to the conflict in the Moluccas. The Republic of Indonesia has failed to guarantee and maintain justice and human rights, by lack of seriousness and consistency, honesty and integrity. We can witness mismanagement, misdemeanor and carelessness, even intentional negligence, apparently without remorse. The criminals, lawbreakers and human rights violators are roaming about and undertake any mischief at leisure. So what is prevailing now is the law of the jungle, barbarism and savagery. It is therefore that, on behalf of human values, on behalf of honoring and upholding human dignity and rights and on behalf of vindicating law, order and security of life for the people of the Moluccas, in all sincerety we appeal to the international community to assist the Indonesian Government in ending the conflict in the Moluccas. More specifically we ask for help to restore security, justice, human rights, economy, religion and culture. The most urgent actual need, which should have priority, is: the presence of international security forces, international and independent survey and investigation teams to restore law and respect for human rights. We are most grateful for your kind attention. We also pray the Lord that He may grant Your Excellencies Peace and Happiness in celebrating the special days of Christmas and Lebaran. Ambon, December 19, 2000 Msgr. P.C. Mandagi MSc, Bishop of Amboina   Cc. 1. The President of the Republic of Indonesia 2. The Governor of the Province of the Moluccas   Received via email from: keus_ab@ambon.wasantara.net.id Copyright © 1999-2000  - 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