Salam sejahtera, Rekan pembaca yang terhormat, berikut ini kami kirimkan pernyataan sikap Pemuda Gereja Ambon sehubungan dengan kerusuhan yang terjadi ke dua kalinya di Ambon. Versi bahasa Indonesia akan kami postingkan menyusul. Kiranya posting ini membantu kita memahami pergumulan dan permasalahan yang sebenarnya terjadi di Ambon. Tuhan memberkati, Redaksi Eksol-Net --------------------- A STATEMENT OF THE POSITION OF CHURCH YOUTH IN AMBON AND SURROUNDING AREAS IN RELATION TO THE CIVIL UPHEAVAL THAT HAS RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS OVERTONES IN THE MOLUCCAS ------------------- We THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH in the city of Ambon, as an integral part of Indonesia�s younger generation, wish to state our position on the events of civil upheaval that have happened and are still happening in the Moluccan Area especially in the city of Ambon and its surrrounding districts as follows : 1. The civil upheaval, that is still going on up till this moment, is caused by weak law enforcement by the forces of law enforcement in the Moluccan area. 2. This is opinion is based on the reality of what is happening at ground level at this moment. The practice of law enforcement seems to be very one-sided. 3. The security forces who are supposed to stop the civil upheaval and bring about peace, on the contary are making no effort to stop the upheaval or bring about peace, instead are giving opportunities for the upheaval to continue. 4. The Christian community both Protestant and Catholic are legal citizens according to the constitution and have the right to protection and the upholding of law, the same as other borthers and sister from other religious backgrounds. Therefore it is not right that while, in this civil upheaval, the Christian community both Protestant and Catholic in the city of Ambon are being shot at, slaughtered and their houses and shops are being burnt down, they are being accused of being separatists. 5. The civil upheaval that has happened and is still continuing must be stopped stopped immediately by all parties concerned, including the security forces. 6. We truly regret the statement by various parties that it is difficult to separate the rioting masses from both sides because they keep on attacking eachother. Such a statement places the Christian community both Portestant and Catholic in a difficult position, especially when it must be remembered that the appearance of Christian community both Portestant and Catholic at each erruption of violence is not the reason for the violence and destruction but the result of self defence whenever the Christian community is attacked by the Muslims. Arising from the above statement of position, we would like to put forward our demands as follows : 1. It is hoped that the law enforcement forces will do their job justly and fairly without any sign of discrimation on their part. 2. The LOCAL GOVERNMENT is asked to put a stop to all civil upheaval and restore the situation both in the city of Ambon and also in the whole area of the Moluccas. 3. The local government officials in Ambon are asked to make an immediate inventary of each refugee site in order to register the population. This should be done in order to differentiate between those who are permanent citizens and those who are occasional visitors. This should be done so that those whose identity cards show that they are really citizens of other areas should be given arrested and surrendered to the respective officilas to be investigated within 24 hours. 4. We really regret the policy of the Local Government of rehousing refugees in the centre of a commercial district (Batu Merah Shopping Area), which is not at all realistic and has potential for creating fresh civil disturbances. 5. A complete investigation into who was responsible for the burning down of Ambon�s commercial centre (the shops in A.Y. Patty St. and its surounding area). 6. We want to ask the Local Government Administration and the security forces concerning the repeat performance of a huge organised mass of Muslims ( from the Leihitu area) who advanced freely past two military command bases, burning and destroying Christian property. Such action if linked with the Governor�s previous statement which we understood to be a guarantee (i.e. if the people from the Leihitu area repeated such an action, the Governor would be prepared to resign). 7. We strongly reject the presence of security forces, especially from the army ( KOSTRAD [strategic army command]) and from the police force (Brimob [mobile brigade] from Kendari and Palu)� who we regard as not being consistant in carrying out their duty as members of the national forces. 8. We ask the LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION to maintain the security forces from the navy (marines) who we judge to be more neutral in performing their job as peace keepers. 9. If it turns out that the marines, who so far can be trusted, are no longer neutral in carrying out their duties, then we suggest that it would be better if all security forces including the MARINES be withdrawn from the area of conflict and let the two sides face each other directly. Such is our statement of position and our demands which we convey so that the appropriate action can be taken. Ambon, 30th July 1999 ON BEHALF OF THE CHRISTIAN YOUNG PEOPLE OF AMBON AND SURROUNDING AREAS Submitted By THE TEAM OF CHURCH LAWYERS NOIJA FILEO PISTOS, SH +++++++++++ "Sebab segala sesuatu adalah dari Dia, dan oleh Dia, dan kepada Dia: Bagi Dialah kemuliaan sampai selama-lamanya!" (Roma 11:36) *********************************************************************** Moderator EskolNet berhak menyeleksi tulisan/artikel yang masuk. Untuk informasi lebih lanjut, pertanyaan, saran, kritik dan sumbangan tulisan harap menghubungi [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bank Danamon Cab. Ambengan Plaza Surabaya, a.n. Martin Setiabudi Acc.No. 761.000.000.772 *********************************************************************** Kirimkan E-mail ke [EMAIL PROTECTED] dengan pesan: subscribe eskolnet-l ATAU unsubscribe eskolnet-l
