RALLY TO PROTEST INDONESIAN MILITARY ACTIONS IN MALUKU (THE MOLUCCAS)
CALL FOR:
* UN PEACEKEEPERS TO GO TO THE MOLUCCAS
* A CESSATION OF ALL MILITARY AID TO THE INDONESIAN MILITARY
TIME: 1PM
DAY: FRIDAY
DATE: 21 JULY 2000
VENUE: PRINCE ALFRED COLLEGE OVAL
DEQUETTEVILLE TCE
KENT TOWN (ADELAIDE)
This emergency protest is being organised by the Uniting Church which is
holding its national assembly at PAC this week.
ALSO ON FRIDAY 21 JULY
5.30 PM UNITED TRADES & LABOUR COUNCIL OPEN MEETING
TRADES HALL
11-16 SOUTH TCE
(ENTER BY SIDE ENTRANCE, VINRACE ST
Hear DR KEITH SUTER speak on Globalisation & PROFESSOR JOHN TITELAY
speak on the situation in the Moluccas.
THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT AND ACTION
The Christian community in the Maluku Province (the Moluccas) of northeastern
Indonesia is facing total annihilation. During the past eighteen months
nearly
all of the 400,000 original Christian inhabitants of Maluku Province have
been driven from their homes and villages and over 3000 have died in the
process. In the past few weeks alone two hospitals, two universities and
whole
Christian suburbs of Ambon City and many outlying villages have been erased
from the map.
Today there is scarcely a Catholic, Protestant or Pentecostal church left
standing amongst the many thousands that once graced these beautiful islands.
The conflict has been fanned by ruthless Jakarta elites for their own
political
ends. Inexplicably, the Indonesian Government has failed to act decisively to
stop the violence.
Still they continue to refuse to allow foreign aid agencies in to offer
humanitarian assistance. Jounalists are banned so news is scant.
The travesty has recently escalated with the arrival of well armed Jihad
mercenaries from outside, backed by sections of the Army (TNI), whose stated
aim is to rid Maluku Province of all Christians in a misguided "holy war".
In the face of this, the remaining Christians have a bleak future if quick
action is not taken quickly either death through starvation or disease in the
jungles where many are hiding, or else being slaughtered like lambs at the
hands of the combined forces of the Jihad mercenaries and the Army. Most
Christians remaining in the Malukus and Ambon City especially, are trapped as
all sea routes are closed.
It is important to note that the TNI is adopting the same tactics that it used
in East Timor from 1998 until now. It formed militia groups in East Timor and
the Jihad Warriors are a Moluccan version of this process. Only a few weeks
ago, the TNI & their militias attacked Australian peacekeepers in Maliana East
Timor.
Now, the Indonesian navy is blockading the Moluccan islands to stop arms
entering the province. This means that the Jihad warriors will get all the
militaru support they want.
We should also remember that the West Papuan people want their freedom from
the
brutal and corrupt tyrrany of the Indonesian military. The TNI has been
conducting genocide, terror and gross violations against human rights there
since 1962.
There is an urgent need to help all displaced persons in the Maluku Province -
both innocent Christians and Moslems alike and to begin a
healing/reconciliation process. To help them will also assist the independence
process in East Timor and West Papua and the democracy movement in Indonesia
itself.
Immediate action is needed to :
* Save the lives of the remaining Christians by either evacuating them before
it
is too late or ensuring proper security for them against their attackers.
* Commence aid programmes to bring in food and medicines for the suffering.
* Expel all outsiders from the Province, including the Jihad mercenaries
who have come with the deliberate intention of promoting violence.
* Bring the Indonesian Army under control so that they cease to use their
weapons against innocent defenceless people and begin to fill their
proper security role.
* Bring in UN observers so that the truth of what is happening can be
exposed
to the world, solutions found and the perpetrators, who are well known,
can
be brought to justice.
* Call for the UN and governments to halt all military cooperation with the
TNI
which is the major threat to peace in the SE Asian region
Realistically, such positive actions will only happen if an international
outcry
by concerned people puts pressure on governments around the world to act and
help Indonesia to resolve this crisis.
YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS CHALLENGE CAN HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF OUR MOLUCCAN
BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
A rally especially organised to draw attention to the Malukus crisis is to be
held at the conclusion of the Uniting Church Assembly at Prince Alfred College
on Dequetteville Terrace at 1 pm 21st July.
Come and hear the President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Professor
James
Haire, who was a missionary for 13 years in the area and meet combined Maluku
church leaders, fresh from a visit to Geneva and New York to plead their case
with the UN for help to save their remaining congregations.
There will be a press conference and the more people who can come the more
powerful the message will be.
PLEASE COME WITH ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS !
For further details contact Emily on 08 83392822
Supported by the Campaign for an Independent East Timor (South Australia) Inc
ADVANCED NOTICE:
A MUSICAL EVENT
TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF EAST TIMOR'S INDEPENDENCE
TIME:
DAY: THURSDAY
DATE: 31 AUGUST 2000
VENUE: GOVERNOR HINDMARSH HOTEL
PORT RD
HINDMARSH
Andrew (Andy) Alcock
Information Officer
Campaign for an Independent East Timor (South Australia) Inc
Phone: 08 83710480 (home)
08 82053200 (work)
Pager: 08 82734382
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL.SG
--
Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html
Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop
Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink
Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
