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Moluccan Church Leaders visited Brussels and London this week to appeal for urgent assistance and intervention in the deepening Indonesian crisis. It is estimated that over 4000 people have now been killed and 350,000 have been displaced from their homes as Muslim extremists wage a Jihad or holy war against the Christian population in the former Spice Islands
'If the international community does not take immediate action then the tragic conflict in the Moluccas will result in the complete destruction of the peaceful Christian and Muslim communities here,' said the delegation composed of Protestant Moderators and Catholic Bishops.
However even as the Moluccan delegation met with British and European officials further reports from the area detailed new attacks on the Christian population in the regional capital of Ambon with over 100 homes being burnt.
The situation has continued to rapidly deteriorate despite the institution of a state of civil emergency and, said the Church Leaders, 'the [Indonesian] government appears unable to stop the violence and guarantee the safety and security of the Christian community in particular.'
In a letter to the EU President signed by Rev Agustinus Aesh, Moderator of the Evangelical Church in Halmahera and the Bishop of Ambonia, Monsignor Petrius Mandagi, the Church Leaders claim that the authorities have done little to prevent the conflict. 'This conflict did not originate in the Moluccas. It was brought to us by provocateurs acting on behalf of extremist elements in Indonesia. There are an estimated 7000 jihad warriors converging on Moluccas. These Muslim militants have attacked Christian villages and town districts with little or no interference from the armed forces. On the contrary, elements of the armed forces have actively participated in the attacks as evidenced in the June massacre in Duma village in which 156 Christians were killed.'
While supportive of Indonesian President Wahid, the Church Leaders question the ability of the Indonesian government to end the conflict and call on the European Union to send a delegation to the area to investigate what is happening in addition to asking 'the Indonesian Government to take the strongest possible measures to ensure that the jihad militants are removed from the Moluccas and that this conflict is brought to an end.'
Backing these calls is former Irish Presbyterian missionary to the Moluccas, Rev Professor James Haire, who this week was installed as President of the Uniting Church in Australia. Describing the Moluccan conflict as 'a humanitarian disaster greater that Kosovo,' Professor Haire highlighted the need for international advocacy, humanitarian aid and the possible provision of a peacekeeping force. 'Now there are people dying, not just from the violence, but from exposure in the jungles. Thousands of women are giving birth in the jungles where they are in hiding.'
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland continues to make representation to both the British and Irish Governments and to the United Nations through Human Rights Commissioner Mrs Mary Robinson. It is also supporting a call for an International Day of Prayer and Fasting for the Moluccas next Sunday, 30 July.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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