Jubilee Campaign USA, April 29, 2004
Muslim Militia Attacking Christian Enclave
PLEASE CALL:
Please call the Political Atache at the Indonesian Embassy in D.C. to voice your
concern: his name is Suhardjono (pronounced Sue-hard-hóno) at 202-775-5210. Tell
him that you are aware of the situation and are gravely disturbed or whatnot.
We received word at 10:30 p.m. Ambon-time that a Laskar Jihad (LJ) force has landed
and is making its way toward a Christian enclave. The full story can be read here.
I appologize for sending this e-mail hard on the heels of the one this morning;
however, if the LJ have indeed arrived, then the situation there is about to get a whole
lot bloodier. This is the same group who, from 1999-2002 slaughtered Christians
wholesale in the Maluku islands.
Observers are concerned that the security forces and police may not be able (or may
refuse) to stop the approaching LJ force. Rumor has it that as many as 12,000 armed
LJ fighters are heading in. Further, according to an eyewitness report, the police were
actually responsible for a church that was burnt yesterday.
Even now, Christiand men and women, young and old, are fleeing for their lives.
Please check our weblog for more information and frequent updates. It is early
morning right now in Indonesia, and we do not want to overreact. We will have to wait
and see in the morning what exactly has transpired. Till then we will continue to pray
for the people of Maluku.
Again, through this afternoon we heard nothing ill had befallen any of the orphan
childred that we sponsor (whose parents were murdered during the violence at the turn
of the century).
Some analysts, however, fear the situation will only grow worse as the "unseen hand"
behind the conflict seeks to destabalize Indonesia heading into the presidential
elections this summer. Make no mistake, this present conflict is not merely a
religious conflict but is likely being instigated by some powerful interest or group
seeking power and/or political control. Though grotesque, this "business" strategy is
nothing new; it has been pursued with success in Ambon in the late nineties and in
Central Sulawesi.
Speaking of Poso, Central Sulawesi, that region is also tense. Our contacts report
Laskar Jihad movement there as well; and many Christians have been killed or
wounded during attacks in the past month.
Again, please, please pray for Indonesia and for those in Poso and in Ambon that
peace, security and safety might prevail.
Sincerely,
David Mundy,
Special Counsel
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.
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