Christian, Muslim women promote peace in Maluku

Oktavianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Maluku

It is virtually unimaginable to many people in Ambon, or in Maluku province in general, that amid the escalating sectarian conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives and inflicted billions of rupiah in material losses, there is still a group of Muslim and Christian women with a keen sense of humanity and a desire for peace.

This group calls itself Gerakan Perempuan Peduli Maluku (the Women's Movement that Cares for Maluku - GPP Maluku), a loose organization set up in August 1999 at the initiative of Sister Fransesco Mus. GPP aims to bring together Christian women so that they can join forces to help women and children in Maluku, who have lost nearly everything: their schooling, their childhood, their parents, their husbands and their villages.

GPP was set up as a moral, apolitical, movement and is therefore not in the format of a foundation. It is a non-profit organization and has no representative office. The women associated with GPP have their meetings at different places: the office of the governor of Maluku, the residence of the governor, the office of a mayor, the army compound of air-borne infantry battalion 733/BS and several other locations.

"We held our first meeting at Rinamakana building and it was here that we decided to stop all the violence and the conflicts. As we realized this goal could not be achieved only by depending on Christian women, we contacted several Muslim women through Aisyah Latuconsina (the wife of Governor Saleh Latuconsina) and Paula B. Renyaan, deputy governor in charge of public welfare," (Sister) Brigitta Renyaan said recounting how GPP came into being.

Several Muslim women agreed to join GPP Maluku. However, they could not do so openly. At first they held meetings in secret. When GPP Maluku began its job, it faced strong opposition from Christian and Muslim youths. "Abusive words were used against us while the house of Leila Suad narrowly escaped a bomb blast," said Rev. Etta Hendriks.

Despite these challenges, the spirit to cease all forms of violence and conflict was not dampened. Official action of GPP Maluku began on Sept. 4, 1999. They voiced the conscience of women before Maluku governor, the commander of Pattimura Military Regional Command Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela and the then chief of Maluku Provincial Police Col. Bugis Saman.

This action was aimed at urging the authorities to immediately stop all forms of violence and conflict in Maluku. The group distributed cloth pamphlets reading "Stop violence and conflicts" to the community and also in border areas, then highly prone to the outbreak of sectarian conflicts. "Ibu Aisyah Latuconsina happened to have the cloth and she gave it to us," said Sister Renyaan.

After this, GPP Maluku changed its target and conducted special training for Christian and Muslim married women. In their observation, many children of the two conflicting camps were involved in the conflicts because their parents, particularly their mothers, neither prohibited them from doing so nor paid special attention to them. "We hope the training can enable the women to make their children realize that it is no use being involved in the conflicts," said Retty Assegaf, the coordinator of GPP Maluku for the Muslim community.

Meanwhile, Leila Suad, who is actively involved in humanitarian activities amid the conflicts, said the women and children in Maluku had become victims in a game played by adults, particularly males. "Ordinary people have become victims so we must bring all parties to their senses," she noted.

Other active members of GPP Maluku within the Muslim community include Syul Latuconsina, Thun Latuconsina and Ema Tatuhey. From the Catholic community, activists include Etty Dumatubun, Oly and Tety Soukota. From the Protestant community, those who are active are, among others, Senda Titaley, Etta Hendriks and C. Saimima.

Slowly but surely, GPP Maluku has made itself known to the wider community. Their campaign to stop the violence and conflicts is echoing everywhere. They have not only made an appeal but have also visited the camps for displaced people, organized workshops on trauma counseling and undertaken activities involving the children of the Christian and Muslim communities. They have also approached Catholic and Protestant priests, Muslim teachers and clerics.

However, challenges have come and gone following the rise and decline of tensions. Still, for Sister Renyaan, these challenges have even inflamed her spirit further. "Jesus faced challenges, let alone human beings," she said, proudly.

Therefore, GPP Maluku has never stopped voicing its appeal to stop violence and conflicts although many of its members have fallen victim to snipers. GPP Maluku has lodged a protest, saying that they are not fighting in the interests of any community and that they will help victims of the conflict regardless of their religion.

"When snipers were on a shooting spree in downtown Ambon, we met the then chief of staff of general affairs of the Indonesian Military Lt. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy and asked that Indonesian Military find the snipers. We have faced a lot of challenges but we have never retreated in the pursuit of our goal. On the contrary, our spirit has been even further inflamed," stressed Sister Renyaan (45), who is attached to the Amboina Diocese.

She said she had to be consistent in the struggle to stop violence and to fight for the rights of children and women amid conflicts. "I say right to what is right and wrong to what is wrong. I am ready to risk being expelled from the diocese or even to die. I'm prepared to fight for the truth," she stressed.

"Women must do something to stop the conflict," said Etta Hendriks (50), who has a PhD in Christian Philosophy and is one of the chairpersons of the central board of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) and a lecturer at the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) of Maluku.

She further said that she was shocked to find that the conflicts had claimed so many lives and that more and more people had become deeply involved in these conflicts. "Nearly all people in Maluku, including children, have been provoked. That's why we must unite to get out of this misery and violence," she said.

However, things are easier said than done. Although the Christians, in her view, are more moderate, Christian members of GPP Maluku have also been criticized by fellow Christians. "The challenges have particularly come from young males or the grassroots. We understand their emotions but violence cannot be stopped with violence. Only peace and continued campaigns can stop violence," she added.

That's why GPP Maluku has never blamed any party. Instead, it has urged that the government stop the conflicts. "Praise the Lord, after four years of struggling for peace amid conflicts, peace is now in sight. This is the fruit of hard work of all parties."

Although the situation is now improving, she said, some people are still traumatized and mutual suspicion still lingers. Therefore, GPP Maluku will continue doing various activities to achieve peace, for example by joining a joint breaking of the fast meal even with the women who used to oppose GPP Maluku before such as those in Wayame, Teluk Ambon Baguala district.

"The government must maintain the present situation. The people are tired of conflict. The program of psychological and physical rehabilitation must continue to be implemented and the return of displaced people to their home villages must already be considered now," she stressed.