CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA
Jalan Pattimura 32 - Ambon 97124 - Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337
E-mail: comamq@ambon.wasantara.net.id
Ambon, November 23, 2001
THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS – Report no. 211
1. STANCE OF THE CHURCHES – On November 16 a press conference was held at
the Synod Office of the GPM (Moluccan Protestant Church) on the statement that
was issued by the 15 christian churches and denominations, based on their recent
meeting. We summarize the contents of this statement as follows.
The meeting was held in order to agree on a common stance in relation to the almost
three years’ tragedy in the Moluccas and specifically on recent tragic events in
Ambon and on South Buru. The statement, which was sent to the Central
Responsible of the Civil Emergency State in Jakarta, to the Responsible of the Civil
Emergency State in the Moluccas and to their corresponding aides, consists of the
following items:
Those Responsible for the Civil Emergency State:
a) To provide clarification to the public on all tragic events during the last three years,
an d more specifically during these last few weeks.
b) To state in clear terms the role of terrorists in the recent unrest, and take firm
measures against these rioters.
c) To make known to the public the schedule or planning of all endeavours to curb the
conflict and prevent it from escalating.
d) To prove their kinetic energy in reestablishing security in the Moluccas so that
there are no obstacles to start rehabilitation in various fields.
e) To take resolute measures against anybody or any group of persons that try to
provoke people by means of their religion in order to keep the conflict going on.
Among other things there should be put a halt to the provocative messages by the
illegal muslim SPMM radio broadcasts and via religious speeches.
f) To guarantee security to the Moluccan community [of christians] specifically during
the planned three days’ period of mourning and worship,
November 20-22, 2001.
There was also ample information on these planned days of mourning and worship –
among others to abstain from daily work, except the security forces and medical staff
– and the exhortation to the christian communities to permanently abstain from alcohol,
narcotics, gambling, vain festivities, internal strife etc.etc.
2. CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS IN THE TOWN OF AMBON –
For those interested we present a list of the local christian Churches and
Denominations:
(1) Gereja Katolik – Keuskupan Amboina / Catholic Church – Diocese of Amboina
(2) Gereja Protestan Maluku (GPM) / Moluccan Protestant Church
(3) Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) / Bethel Church of Indonesia
(4) Gereja Pantekosta Tabernakel / Tabernacle Pentecost Church
(5) Gereja Pantekosta Pusat Surabaya / Surabaya Pentecost Church
(6) Gereja Suara Tebusan Maluku / Moluccan Voice of Salvation Church
(7) Gereja Masehi Advent Hari Ketujuh / Messiah Seventh Day’s Adventist Church
(8) Gereja Tuhan di Indonesia / The Lord’s Church in Indonesia
(9) Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia / Indonesian Pentecost Church
(10) Gereja Misi Injili Indonesia / Evangelical Mission Church Indonesia
(11) Gereja Elim Tabernakel Ambon / Ambon Elim Tabernacle Church
(12) Gereja Baptis Indonesia / Indonesian Baptist Church
(13) Gereja Sidang Jemaat Allah / God’s Community Church
(14) Gereja Bethel Injil Sepenuh / Full-Evangelical Bethel Church
(15) Gereja Bala Keselamatan / Salvation Army Church
3. MOURNING AND WORSHIP – These last three days (20 – 22 November) have
been days of Mourning and Worship, proclaimed by the 15 christian churches and
denominations. Everywhere in and around the city of Ambon there were oecumenical
gatherings of worship and other prayer meetings. The streets were empty the whole
day long but for – in some places – boys playing soccer. No shop opened its doors.
The streets were heavily barricaded and guarded by dozens of young men to prevent
any traffic of christians. For sparsely passing autocars and motorbikes the barricades
were – often reluctantly – opened. It was ended yesterday with an impressive
lining-up along the roadsides from church to church by many thousands of christians,
singing religious songs. Meanwhile, on November 21, a number of (muslim)
government employees held a demonstration at the Governor’s office protesting
against this unruly abstaining from work by many of their fellow office workers. They
brought along a banner saying: “Office workers are servants of the country, not of the
church. The governor should take firm measures against the christian employees that
do not show up for work. Oh country, where is your spirit to take measures against
the Church?” A delegation of the demonstrators was received by the Provincial
Secretary, Drs.Husein Soulissa, who tried to convince them of the importance of this
christian initiative.
C.J.Böhm MSc,
Secretary of Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
Received via e-mail from : Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina
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