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Indonesia's forgotten tragedy
Ambonese Clergy Plead for International Help in
Ambon
May 24, 2000
from Rev John Barr, Secretary
for Indonesia
Uniting Church in Australia
PO Box A2266 Sydney South 1235
Phone (02) 8267 4251 (office) 0408826742 (mobile)
Fax (02) 8267 4222
e-mail: jbarr@nat,uca.org.au |
For an update on this story, click
here.
And for a glimpse of "the human side of the
news" from the same source, click here.
 Christians
are carrying on their own "holy
war" in Ambon. [3-14-01]
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Your web-weaver spent a memorable month visiting the
Christian community on the Indonesian island of Ambon, 'way back in
1956. So with deep sorrow he shares this report.
If you visit many web sites dealing with religious
issues, you will surely be aware of the growing religious tensions in
that part of Eastern Indonesia. Web sites more oriented to the right
end of the religious spectrum seem to note events like this with
alarm, as evidence of the world's opposition to the Christian faith.
Some of us may see situations like this as being considerably more
complex than that, but nevertheless we must pay attention to the acts
of violence that are being committed, and seek ways to respond to
them, and to support the people who are suffering there.
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Rev John Ruhulessin and Rev Jack Manuputty today
pleaded for international help in the Maluku Islands as their homeland
is plunged into further conflict and violence. Both clergy serve in
Ambon as ministers with the Protestant Church in Maluku.
Jihad militia, who have been armed and shipped to
Ambon, are threatening to wipe out the Christian community. Thousands of
people have fled into the mountains while more than 44,000 displaced
people from other parts of the Maluku Islands are seeking shelter in
Ambon city. A total of more than 124,000 displaced people are seeking
shelter in other parts of the province of Maluku while tens of thousands
of people from the province of North Maluku are seeking shelter in North
Sulawesi and Papua.
International pressure needs to be placed on the
Indonesian government to provide adequate security for all people in
Ambon. This means the Jihad militia must be withdrawn. Rev Ruhulessin
and Rev Manuputty also called for the safe return of International Non
Government Organisations to the area. These have recently withdrawn
because of the escalating violence.
International assistance for the increasing number of
refugees in the Maluku Islands is also an urgent priority.
Ambon and Maluku Islands have become Indonesia's
forgotten tragedy. Rev Ruhulessin comments that "we feel as though
we are being left behind." Yet the conflict taking place in Ambon
has serious implications for the democratically elected Wahid
government. "The international community must take notice of what
is happening to us."
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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