Jubilee Campaign USA, June 14, 2002
With One Of Indonesia's Most Violent Islamists Under Arrest,
What Can Christians Expect Next?
Dear Friend,
On June 5, 2002, a pre-set bomb exploded on a bus carrying about 45 Christians as it
traveled from the Central Sulawesi capitol of Palu via a highway through Poso to the
Christian area of Tentena. Four were killed, including a Pentecostal pastor who had
been sent from Palu to assist a mission agency in rebuilding homes in the Poso
region. 17 others were injured in the attack. The bomb had been planted in the rear of
the bus. A second bomb planted under a seat near the front, failed to detonate.
The Muslim militant group, Laskar Jihad, boasts that 600 of its fighters are still active
in the Poso region, and Christians now fear a repeat of the terror that led to attacks on
21 Christian villages during the Fall of last year. The Peace Accord agreed to between
Muslim and Christian representatives in Malino in December 2001, contained a six
month time frame for peace implementation.
Laskar Jihad sympathizers for months had been declaring, "just wait six months."
Random attacks are frightening local Christians in the Poso area. In late May 2002,
two Christians were killed in Masane, 10 km from Poso. Both were refugees coming
from Tentena to harvest their fruit trees. Both were shot, and one beheaded.
As a result of intense international pressure, Indonesian police finally mustered
enough courage to arrest the infamous leader of Laskar Jihad, Jafar Umar Thalib. On
May 4, 2002, Thalib was arrested as he returned to Jakarta after inciting violence in
Ambon, Maluku and currently remains behind bars-but for how long?
Predictably, following the arrest of Jaffar Umar Thalib, Islamists retaliated. The
following day, one local hospital alone reported two dead and 15 seriously injured. The
deaths and casualties resulted from mortar bombs being fired by the Laskar Jihad into
the Christian neighborhoods. The chaotic scene and a ban on foreign journalists made
it difficult to obtain news, but local sources reported to Jubilee Campaign that many
more were injured. Ambon went on a 24-hour alert, and the situation there grew tense.
Adding insult to injury, is the strong support shown to Jafar Umar Thalib by the
Republic of Indonesia's Vice President, Hamzah Haz. Haz visited Thalib in Police
Headquarters in Jakarta to express his "Muslim brotherhood." This act of solidarity
with a mass- murderer shows the massive clout of those endorsing fundamentalist
terror, who rubber stamp the acts and intentions of the Laskar Jihad. This fact was
further confirmed when a few days after his visit with Thalib, Hamzah Haz officially
opened the week-long Laskar Jihad conference being held in Jakarta. Responding to
international calls for the removal of Laskar Jihad fighters from Maluku, Haz
announced that Laskar Jihad should not pull out from Maluku until "all the Christian
separatists" leave the area.
Haz, like his Laskar Jihad affiliates, make no distinction between the small and
marginal RMS and FKM Christian Separatist factions and Indonesia's general
Christian population. This is evidenced by the fact that when Laskar Jihad attacks
"the Christian separatists," they fire bombs indiscriminately into marketplaces, attack
Christian villagers while they sleep (including killing a 9- month-old baby in Soya), and
burn down churches. Clearly, the call being made by the Vice President of Indonesia
is for the entire Christian community in Maluku to leave the region or remain forever
besieged by Laskar Jihad.
While acts of sectarian terrorism in Israel and Palestine are frequently reported by the
foreign press, such atrocities in Indonesia rarely make the news. Thankfully there is
growing international concern, but so much more is needed. The Christians in
Indonesia desperately need our prayers and support. Please pray for intervention in
the deadly conflict. Pray that the Indonesian Government would take a strong stand
against sectarian and religious terrorism. Pray that the Laskar Jihad would be
effectively disarmed and removed from Maluku. Pray that Christian neighborhoods
would be protected against mortar attacks and further deaths. Pray for peace and
protection for the Hammonds and other missionaries serving the Indonesian people.
You can make a difference.
For detailed reports, please email: jubilee@jubileecampaign.org or call 703-503-0791.
Sincerely,
Ann Buwalda
Jubilee Campaign USA
email: jubilee@jubileecampaign.org
voice: 703-503-0791
web: http://www.jubileecampaign.org
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