'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Laporkan Situasi lingkungan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Atau Hub Eskol Hot Line Telp: 031-5479083/84 ********************** CLARIFICATION OF TOBELO INCIDENT This is to correct the news reports from certain newspapers in the province of North Sulawesi and also in the capital city (Jakarta) about the alleged rape of women and killing of children as part of the sectarian strife which took place in the subdistrict of Tobelo. We categorically deny the news reports and hereby state that such things have never been perpetrated by the Christian community of Tobelo. We hereby submit the chronology of events during the said conflict, as follows: v Toward the beginning of December 1999 already rumors abounded in Tobelo and Galela subdistricts of an upcoming "BLOODY (BLOODSTAINED) CHRISTMAS". There was much concern and fear within the Christian community, inasmuch as the Moslems were expected to launch an attack on the evening of 24 December 1999. The fear rose when suddenly the electricity was cut off on 24 December 1999, while Christians were celebrating Christmas in their church. However, no clashes occurred that night. v In the evening of 25 December 1999 at 21.30 hours local time, a mattress was burned in an empty house belonging to a Makian villager (Moslem) which happened to be next door to a Home for the Elderly, run by the Gosoma congregation of the Evangelical Church of Halmahera (GMIH). As a result, there was some altercation between Christians and Moslems living in the area. All of a sudden, Moslems wearing white headbands were all around the area and began accusing the Christians of having set the house on fire. No clashes ensued, however. v On 26 December 1999 at about 18.00 hours local time Moslems living in the area of the Kariangan Square started to move their women and children to the big Mosque in the central part of the city, as though they were up to something. v At 20.00 hours the Moslems started stoning the houses of Christians in the Kariangan Square complex and the area around the Gosomo Church House for the Elderly. Surprisingly, the stoning of houses took place simultaneously in various areas of Tobelo, such as in the Housing area of the Tobelo Police Resort Dormitory, the Office of the Synod of the GMIH Church, the Harbour street, and the area around Rawa Jaya. They hurled stons and molotov bombs at the houses of Christians. At the same time, the cry of "Allahuakbar" (Allah is Great) could be heard from all the mosques in the town of Tobelo. v When the Christians heard the sound, they immediately took action and began posting guards in certain vital areas to protect the church and its assets. The action was of a defensive nature only. This clearly refutes allegations made through electronic media and the newspapers that Christians had started the attacks. A great clash between Moslems and Christians could not be avoided, however, starting with the burning of two houses owned by Christians of the Gosoma congregation by Moslems living near the elderly home. v On 27 December 1999 at 01.00 hours local time (just after midnight) Christians started retaliating. v In the morning of 27 December 1999 at 03.00-05.00 hours local time the Christians began to relent their attacks. This was also due to the fact that the Christians had never suspected their Moslem brothers would carry out such an attack. How many times before did they not have peaceful meetings and dinners with their Moslem brothers. v On 27 December 1999 at 06.00 hours local time the Moslems advanced as the Gosoma church was attacked from four directions, using spears, homemade rifles, molotov bombs, machetes and catapults as well as air rifles. They burned the houses, shops and warehouses owned by Christians living in the area, and also attacked the Pentecostal Church and Bethany Church of Tobelo. v Help arrived from Christians living in the southern part of Tobelo but only at 12.00 o'clock, because they had been held back by security forces guarding the perimeters of the town. Only after the reinforcements came, were the Christians able to control the situation and safeguard the Gosoma church and its assets. Until midnight of 27 December 1999 the Christians were able to defend themselves, although buildings were set on fire by both parties to the conflict. v On 28 December 1999 at 07.00 hours local time the Christians simultaneously launched a counter attack, pushing the Moslems back to the big Mosque of Tobelo. The Christians were able to take control of the city but refrained from attacking the big Mosque, although they kept a siege on the mosque until troops arrived and evacuated all of the Moslems to "Kompi Senapan C.732" (C.732 Rifle Company barracks). v Meanwhile, the Moslems from Gorua village of Tobelo were seen busy burning the Petrus evangelical church of Gorua and the houses in the surrounding area as well as killing a number of Christians in the village, located 5 kilometers to the north of Tobelo town. They succeeded in breaking open the Tobelo Prison house (near Gorua village) and using guns they killed the Christians. At the same time the Betania evangelical church of Mede village was also set on fire by the Moslems. It was this that really provoked the wrath of the Christians. Vehemently the Christians of Tobelo/ Kao, Mamuya, Pane, and Ruko villages began attacking Gorua, Polpilo and Luari villages, which have been the strongholds of Islam in Tobelo area. Many people fled and escaped to Galela (Soa-Siu). When this report was being filed the three villages have already been overtaken by the Christians. Meanwhile, the security troops have already taken control of Tobelo city, although the situation in town is still very tense. v Despite the clashes between Christians and Moslems in Tobelo, two transmigration centres in the Tobelo subdistrict (Togoliua and Kasuari) have not been unharmed and were protected by the Christians. We deeply regret the news reports issued by the media which place the Christian community of Tobelo in a bad light, without trying to get the facts straight. The report of children being slaughtered and women being raped is simply not true! Please report objectively without any partiality. We were only acting in self defense and fighting for our faith and convictions. We refuse to be trampled upon by any one group or party in this Pancasila based state. We appeal to the leadership of this nation to immediately settle the present chaos. Resource: SUARA PEDULI HALMAHERA (Concerned Voice from Halmahera) YAYASAN SAGU Solidaritas Anak Negeri Maluku "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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