Friday, April 30, 2004

INDONESIAN BISHOP PLEADS FOR HELP AS DEATH TOLL IN AMBON RISES

By Michael Ireland
ASSIST News Service

AMBON, INDONESIA  (ANS) -- Monsignor Mandagi, Catholic Bishop of the Maluku, has issued an SOS call to the international community as the death toll in Ambon City rises to at least 36, with more than 159 injured, the U.K-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.

In his written statement, the Bishop requested the international community to "safeguard the rights of the people of Ambon to live in security in this city. To urge the Indonesian Government, particularly the Central Government, to put an end as soon as possible to all mutual attacking between Muslim and Christian groups and all burning and destroying of houses and public facilities."

He further requested "help in caring for the victims of this violence, especially the refugees whose number is increasing day by day. If the violence cannot be stopped, to help and evacuate those Ambon people that  want to live in peace, to places outside Ambon, outside the Maluku or even outside Indonesia where they can live without fear or disturbance."

Monsignor Mandagi also encouraged prayer for the well-being of the people of Ambon.

CSW reports that after a night of heavy fighting on April 29, which saw the Christian area of Batu Gantung (Kudamati) come under heavy attack by militants, yet more people were injured and displaced. The police attempted to stop the attack but were outnumbered and the army was reportedly nowhere to be seen.

"The Indonesian army has reportedly focused on arresting a few members of the separatist Republic of South Maluku movement while ignoring the full-scale attacks, allowing militant extremists a free reign on the Maluku. Sources from the Maluku state that military commanders are not even responding to pleas from the local authorities to stop the violence," the CW|report said.

Human rights experts fear that unless the Indonesian government takes firm action to stop the violence, there will be a repeat of the 1999 violence which left some 10,000 dead and half a million people displaced, CSW said.

Jafar Umar Thalib, head of the
Friday, April 30, 2004

INDONESIAN BISHOP PLEADS FOR HELP AS DEATH TOLL IN AMBON RISES

By Michael Ireland
ASSIST News Service

AMBON, INDONESIA  (ANS) -- Monsignor Mandagi, Catholic Bishop of the Maluku, has issued an SOS call to the international community as the death toll in Ambon City rises to at least 36, with more than 159 injured, the U.K-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.

In his written statement, the Bishop requested the international community to "safeguard the rights of the people of Ambon to live in security in this city. To urge the Indonesian Government, particularly the Central Government, to put an end as soon as possible to all mutual attacking between Muslim and Christian groups and all burning and destroying of houses and public facilities."

He further requested "help in caring for the victims of this violence, especially the refugees whose number is increasing day by day. If the violence cannot be stopped, to help and evacuate those Ambon people that  want to live in peace, to places outside Ambon, outside the Maluku or even outside Indonesia where they can live without fear or disturbance."

Monsignor Mandagi also encouraged prayer for the well-being of the people of Ambon.

CSW reports that after a night of heavy fighting on April 29, which saw the Christian area of Batu Gantung (Kudamati) come under heavy attack by militants, yet more people were injured and displaced. The police attempted to stop the attack but were outnumbered and the army was reportedly nowhere to be seen.

"The Indonesian army has reportedly focused on arresting a few members of the separatist Republic of South Maluku movement while ignoring the full-scale attacks, allowing militant extremists a free reign on the Maluku. Sources from the Maluku state that military commanders are not even responding to pleas from the local authorities to stop the violence," the CW|report said.

Human rights experts fear that unless the Indonesian government takes firm action to stop the violence, there will be a repeat of the 1999 violence which left some 10,000 dead and half a million people displaced, CSW said.

Jafar Umar Thalib, head of the militant Islamist group Laskar Jihad, is reported to have said he is planning to send more than 10,000 Laskar Jihad members to Ambon. "Preparations are unnecessary. They are already ready," he told reporters at a press conference. This announcement is the strongest indication yet that the violence on the Maluku has been orchestrated by outside elements. Despite its openly Islamist agenda, there is evidence that the actions of Laskar Jihad are directed by political and military leaders.

CSW said: "It is impossible to know who exactly is stage-managing the violence but some experts point to the forthcoming Indonesian presidential elections and the campaign of Presidential candidate General Wiranto. They suggest that violence could be used to undermine President Megawati's campaign and to promote the idea that stronger tactics are needed to resolve problems in Indonesia."

Mervyn Thomas, CSW's Chief Executive, said: "The Indonesian authorities must act decisively and fairly to prevent further lives being lost. It is critical that the international community responds to the Bishop's plea to intervene in order to prevent a repeat of the terrible disruption and bloodshed of previous years on the Maluku."

The violence seems to have begun after a ceremony was held in Ambon on April 25, 2004, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of the South Maluku (Republik Maluku Selatan - RMS). The police intervened to try to stem the violence. When police escorted the demonstrators past the Pohon Puleh area, some Muslims from the crowd started throwing stones at them, which prompted police to open fire. 

According to the Jakarta-based Elshinta radio, some Muslim attackers then burned down the UNDP office and houses in Christian areas. Other sources say that the violence began after the injured were taken to the Al Fatah hospital in Ambon City.

CSW reports that Indonesian police rearrested the militant cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, on suspicion of terrorism immediately after his release from a Jakarta jail. Police said they had new evidence to show he was a senior leader of the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah, blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings.

CSW is a human rights charity working on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs. They also promote religious liberty for all.

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