Jubilee Campaign USA, April 27, 2004
Violence Rips Through Ambon
18+ are dead in Ambon as violence erupted between Muslim and Chrsitian gangs. (As
reported by the Associated Press). Most of the Christians have fled. Meanwhile, the
security sent in to stop the violence are being blamed for at least 8 of the deaths.
Experts are concerned that this latest violence is only a preamble to the impending
national elections.
Violence was predominant in the Maluku Islands from 1999-2002 (pictured here is a
church that was burnt during that time period). During that time Muslim militias,
including the Laskar Jihad, slaughtered Christians wholesale. The latest spat of
violence was allegedly precipitated by a rally of the region's small "Christian"
separatist South Maluku Republic movement . Reports are in that a Catholic church,
UN offices, and a Protestant University were burnt. That's unfortunate. During our trip
to Ambon in January, it seemed that the 2002 peace accord was taking shape; and
we noted numerous small, positive changes. In fact, we saw the construction done on
the new university... CLICK HERE to read a short write-up of our Jan. 2004 trip to
Ambon & the Maluku Islands.
Please pray that the violence will be contained quickly and pray also for the children
and families that we support in the Maluku islands.
Rinaldy Damanik Ill
Indonesian Pastor Rinaldy Damanik remains seriously ill in a hospital in Poso. Rev.
Damanik was arrested and convicted by a kangaroo court hoping to label Damanik &
the Christian community as the provocateurs of the violence that destroyed Poso,
Central Sulawesi in the late nineties. (Here he is pictured in front of his cell at the jail
in the city of Palu, Poso District).
Our contact there reports:
"Sorry to come to you with this news, but most of you keep asking me to give up date
on him. Rev. Damanik was taken again to the same hospital yesterday, and acc to
the doctor, he needs surgery as soon as possible, because his condition is getting
weaker and weaker avery hour, so we decided to take him to Jakarta next
Wednesday, although we still don't have any means to do so. It seems he just tried to
hold himself and try to look healthy outside, but in fact physically and maybe
psychologically he is not yet recovered. Please keep praying for him, his family and
every body who is voluntarily watching him every minute."
PRAY
Please remain in constant prayer for the health of Rev. Rinaldy Damanik and for
peace in the Maluku islands. Analysts fear that the violence will only increase,
however, as the national elections draw nearer and partisan groups seek to woo or to
polarize religious and ethnic groups.
Ann Buwalda
Jubilee Campaign USA
email: jubilee@jubileecampaign.org
voice: 703-503-0791
web: http://www.jubileecampaign.org
This email was sent to shortcut2justy@yahoo.com.au, by Jubilee Campaign USA.
|
