************************* Laporkan Situasi lingkungan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Atau Hub Eskol Hot Line Telp: 031-5479083/84 ************************* INDONESIA CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATION FORUM (ICCF) ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ' No. : 124/FKKI/XII/1999 Surabaya, 30 December 1999 Subject : The Scorched-Earthing of Ambon To His Excellency The President of Republic of Indonesia, Mr. K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid In Jakarta. Your Excellency, The conflict between religious followers in Ambon which began almost one year ago (on 15 January 1999) has not subsided until today. There is a strong suspicion among the populace that this conflict has been the result of an evil plot from Jakarta, which has been exploited by other people wielding power. Wave upon wave of killings, destruction, and burning of houses as well as churches and mosques, have come and gone. This human tragedy has gone out of control because the government security forces have failed to take quick action and to mediate in all fairness, and also in exerting their (authority) in stopping the fighting between the conflicting parties (Moslems versus Christians). Security forces, who should have protected the people, have according to reliable eyewitnesses (which needs further clarification, however) become personally involved by actually using their weapons during the conflict. The soldiers (members of the armed forces) have in almost every instance abetted the Moslem mobs in attacking Christians, both directly and indirectly. And this was certainly done with the knowledge of their commanders/ Senior Commander. Because of the military oath they have taken, their classical excuse that soldiers have become involved as a result of their primordial-emotional nature, is totally unacceptable. Then there was the killing, destruction and burning of the oldest and biggest church, namely the Church of Silo, and the residential houses in the city of Ambon in the evening of Sunday, 26th December 1999. When the members of the Silo Protestant Church of Maluku in Ambon were having their worship service, all of a sudden Moslem mobs from the direction of Al Fatah Mosque attacked for the umpteenth time. According to eyewitnesses, the Moslem mobs attacked this oldest and largest church in Ambon with the evident help of soldiers of the 303rd KOSTRAD (Strategic Forces) army unit who were equipped with an armored car. The armored vehicle was driven by soldiers and carried a number of Moslems, with its cannon pointing at the church building. Meanwhile, a mob of Moslems came behind the armored car to burn the church building. The church which has been the pride of Christians in Ambon was totally burned down and now remains in ruins. Another church that was destroyed was the Maluku Protestant Church of Bethlehem. With these additional two churches burned and destroyed in Ambon, the number of church buildings destroyed, closed down or burned down (in the whole of Indonesia) until 30th December 1999 has reached a total of 627. A number of mosques have also been burned down during the conflict, but have any of the mosque burnings ever been planned ahead (engineered)? After having studied the conflict in Ambon which has clearly resulted in the violation of human rights, namely the right to life and the right to worship God freely and without fear, we appeal to the Central Government of Indonesia to: 1. Immediately replace the Governor/Provincial Head of Maluku, inasmuch as the said person has been involved in a political conspiracy with a high ranking officer of the Navy in the case of a clove plantation in Ambon. 2. Immediately replace the Head of the XVIth Pattimura Military Command, inasmuch as the said person has failed to prevent the conflict from getting out of control. 3. Immediately stop the fighting and quickly replace the Army chain of command who are responsible in the field and to immediately investigate the possibility that some general(s) at a higher level have been indirectly involved. In other words, to request the (Indonesian) Human Rights Commission to interfere. In case the conflict continues unabated as it does now, while security personnel are involved in the shooting/ killing and looting during weaponry sweeps among the people, by taking sides with a certain party, contrary to their military oath, with deep regret we have no alternative but to report this matter to the UN International Human Rights Commission in New York. This is our appeal, and we thank Your Excellency for your support. Yours faithfully, Dr. Dr. med. Paul Tahalele, SpB, SpBTKV General Chairman Drs. Kris Nugroho, MA General Secretary cc. 1. Vice President of R.I. 2. Chairman, MPR-RI (People's Consultative Assembly) 3. Chairman of DPR-RI (House Speaker) 4. Minister of Defence and Security 5. Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs 6. Minister of State for Human Rights Affairs 7. Commander-in-Chief, TNI (Armed Forces) 8. Chief of RI Police Force 9. National Commission on Human Rights 10. Chairman, KPP (Committee) on Human Rights 11. International Commission on Human Rights, New York "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. 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