1. DO NOT LET GO OF OUR HANDS 2. 3000 LASKAR JIHAD NOW IN PAPUA (IRIAN JAYA)

3. LAUNCH OF NEW WEBSITE: CRY INDONESIA

DO NOT LET GO OUR HANDS

The following letter was sent by Peter Scarborough (an Australian working in Manado, Nth Sulawesi), to an Australian member of parliament on March 20, 2002, pleading for international intervention in the very serious situation facing our Christian brothers and sisters in the refugee centres in Manado. It is a plea that cannot be ignored. Please pray. Please lobby. Please carry the burden of the suffering church in your heart this Easter and pray that God brings resurrection life and hope into this most desperate situation.

Letter: On Sunday I was called to an urgent meeting of the leaders of all the refugee camps in Northern Sulawesi. They have received an order that all refugee camps across Indonesia are to be closed. The camps in Sulawesi are to be closed in April. People are to be repatriated or relocated, depending on the situation in their home towns.

The response of the refugee leaders to this order (which was published in the newspaper) was:

1. They do not trust the central govt. They think they may be relocated to areas that are not stable or that may be targeted by the Jihad soon.

2. The order is not clear in that they do not know where they are to go if the camps are closed. They are very uncertain about their future. They have been through enough.

3. They want to be told personally by the govt ministers what lies ahead. They certainly do not feel cared for by the govt and would like a special committee or a minister to have responsibility for refugees. At present orders are issued from several departments.

4. They feel they are treated like “things” and not people.

5. Those that cannot return to places such as Ternyate and Tidore would like compensation for all they have lost.

6. There are some areas that have been declared safe for them to return, but should they return they have would have restrictions placed on them.

One such example is Bacan where representatives of the Christian community visited in November. They were asked to sign an agreement by the Islamic leaders that the minority religion in each village be prohibited from building a place of worship. They were also asked to sign that no Ambonese Pastors be allowed to go to Bacan. They refused to sign and do not feel safe to return.

7. The parting words I received to be passed on to you were from a young man from North Maluku. He says to you:

“Please do not forget the youth of the Maluku islands. Do not let go of our hands.”

I told the assembled leaders that I would contact you and ask that my government encourage the Indonesian govt to give more attention to the refugees than what is presently being given.

Continually the message I received was that they trust the international community and see their problem as an international one and not a local one.

I trust you can convey the feelings of fear and uncertainty that these refugees have to your fellow MPs. I trust that a message can be relayed to the Indonesian govt encouraging them to be more sensitive to the needs of Christian refugees in Sulawesi and Halmahera.

I trust that the email above gives you an understanding of the plight of these dear brothers and sisters. I agree that the camps should be closed as disease and depression is increasing. But these people need a hope, they need a future. They need to be treated with respect and cared for.

Peter & Esther Scarborough: Yayasan Berkati Indonesia (Bless Indonesia Today)

IFC, Indonesia, with Dr Jeff Hammond

3000 LASKAR JIHAD NOW IN PAPUA (IRIAN JAYA)

The Human Rights watch group ELSHAM, reporting from Jayapura, Papua (12.3.02) that, according to a leaked document from the Laskar Jihad, there are now 3000 Laskar Jihad based in Papua (formerly known as Irian Jaya)

operating in four bases. The report goes on to say that the Laskar Jihad have been infiltrating Papua since 2001 and are preparing for a ‘grand strike’ against the indigenous people, most of whom are Christians. One Jihad militia commander in Makasar admitted to an AFP journalist in February 2002 that the purpose of sending the Jihad militias to Papua is to assist TNI in “fighting the Papuan separatists.” ELSHAM reports that the TNI are likely to use the Laskar Jihad to provoke religious conflict and then use the instability to act against the pro-independence movement within Papua. This is a matter for grave concern and we must be prayerful and for those able, active in advocacy over the next few weeks.

Here is a copy of one recent official ELSHAM report:

ELSHAM News Service 16th March 2002

On 13th March 2002, twenty church leaders from different denominations, together with eight tribal leaders and five youth leaders declared that the Laskar Jihad must stop operating in Sorong, Papua. The Laskar Jihad’s presence is already causing unrest and fear among the local population. These leaders gathered in Sorong and noted that the establishment of an office for the organisation, Ahlus Sunnah Waal Jamaah (known as the Laskar Jihad) is disturbing the peace and serving to provoke unreast in the area. The leaders thus declared support for the following five points:

(1) Laskar Jihad must be prevented from operating in Sorong and throughout Papua.

(2) Laskar Jihad publications, bulletins and VCD’s concerning the violence in Maluku and North Maluku must be prevented from being circulated in Sorong and throughout Papua because this material both incites and provokes people.

(3) The presence of Indonesian nationals and foreign nationals (Pakistani)

whose purpose is to provoke trouble between religious groups in Sorong and throughout Papua must be stopped.

(4) Support the outcome of a conference in Papua that took place in Jayapura on 25th to 28th February 2002 that states:

(a) The Papuan community is open to and values opportunities to work with people from outside the region provided this takes place with the purpose of creating Papua as a region which is free from violence, greed and oppression.

(b) The Papuan community values and honours non-Papuan members of the community who live in Papua and who do not promote differences between ethicity, religion and race.

(5) Appeals to all members of the community (both Papuan and non-Papuan) in the Sorong region and throughout Papua to not be influenced by the provocation that takes place. Rather all members of the community are asked to cultivate and protect harmony in their community.

This statement was prepared for and sent to the government head of the Sorong region, the head of the Sorong police district, the head of Papua police region, the local Military Commander and the Governor of Papua. Copies were sent to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, the Minister for Religion, the leader of the Parlaiment and the Peoples’ Assembly in Jakarta and leader of the Council of Islamic leaders in Indonesia.

LAUNCH OF NEW WEBSITE: CRY INDONESIA

Drawing attention to these issues above, and more, PLUS showcasing the soon to be released CD and Video Pack, Cry Indonesia (a ministry of IFC, Australia) is a resource rich site for those who wish to be informed and inform others of the suffering church in East Indonesia. A web development team has spent weeks putting it together. The official release date is Monday (the photos will be online then) but you can access it right now to read the latest about all that is happening, plus prepare yourself for our special month of focus in prayer during April.

Go to http://CryIndonesia.rnc.org.au

(Note: there is no “www” in this address)

Also, we have thousands of full colour A5 flyers for those wanting to promote Cry Indonesia during April. Ideal as a handout for Easter church services. Email now for your copies (inc name, church, adress, quantity required). Ask for a pdf sample first if you wish.

FINALLY, I urge you to forward this email on far and wide across your own networks. The issues above concern developments needing much prayer. I believe the Cry Indonesia website has been timed by God to coincide with these urgent needs for prayer and partnership.

In the words of the Maluku youth, ‘Do not let go of our hands’. Now more than ever, lets hold those hands tightly.

Do your B.I.T and

Bless Today

Yours in partnership

Ian Freestone, 21.03.02 Australian Director, IFC Producer, Cry Indonesia