Habibie silent on calls for visit to Ambon

Habibie silent on calls for visit to Ambon

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie thanked Maluku leaders on
Friday for their advice on how to resolve violence between
Muslims and Christians in the province, but kept silent over
growing calls that he visit Ambon.

In a meeting with members of the Maluku legislative council,
the President promised to take all necessary measures to restore
peace and order in the province.

The speaker of the council, Abdul Fatah Syah Doa, said after
meeting with Habibie at Merdeka Palace the council members did
not invite the President to visit the province.

"As this country's President, he should go to any place which
needs his presence," Abdul said. "Only foreigners need an
invitation."

Meanwhile, groups of Muslims here and across the country and
the Jakarta-based Indonesian Communion of Churches expressed
sadness and outrage over the Ambon tragedy.

In a statement signed by chairman Sularso Sopater and
secretary-general J.M. Pattiasina, the communion denied the
unrest in Maluku was ethnic cleansing as a Muslim leader had
alleged.

Abdullah Soulissa, who is the head of Ambon's Al Fatah Mosque
Foundation, told a media briefing organized by the Crescent Star
Party here that the riots in Maluku constituted an ethnic
cleansing of Muslims.

He charged published death tolls were inaccurate and the
number killed ran into the thousands. "Thousands have died, not
hundreds. We don't know the exact number or the breakdown between
Christians and Muslims."

"This is ethnic cleansing. It appears the Muslims are the ones
who are being forced out."

"It will take two generations to restore and heal relations
between Muslims and Christians. What do you do when you see
someone's eyes being gorged out, their ears cut off and their
throats slashed?"

Christian groups have reported similar atrocities committed by
Muslims. But the communion said the claims of ethnic cleansing
were an attempt to sow fresh hatred.

"We firmly reject efforts to portray Ambon's riots as the
ethnic cleansing of a particular religious group."

Pattiasina said the first outbreak of violence in January
planted such deep hatred people now were killing each other
senselessly. "People don't know why they are killing one
another... they just attack (one another). You cannot call it
ethnic cleansing."

Muslims comprise about 40 percent of Ambon's population of
some 400,000. Christians make up the remaining 60 percent. Around
50,000 Muslims, however, have fled the province and returned to
their hometowns, mainly in South and Southeast Sulawesi.

Asked whether he hated Christians for what has happened,
Soulissa said, "No. I am very sad. I used to be so close with
them and I know their religion so well."

He illustrated his point by reciting Bible verses.

Also on Friday, around 50 youths from the Young Generation of
the Batak Muslim Community rallied at the office of the National
Commission on Human Rights in Jakarta, urging the commission to
help restore peace in Maluku.

In the Central Java capital of Semarang, a group of 300
protesting students and youths warned members of the Armed Forces
to remain impartial in their handling of the unrest in Maluku.

The Muslim students also said they would never commit violence
against Christians.

Similar demonstration took place in the Central Java town of
Surakarta, where Muslim students demanded that Armed Forces
Commander Gen. Wiranto resign.

Students also protested the Ambon tragedy in Kendari,
Southeast Sulawesi. Police fired warning shots to disperse the
students, saying they lacked a permit to demonstrate.

No injuries were reported.

In Yogyakarta, around 5,000 Muslim students held a prayer for
the dead in Ambon. The event was organized by the United
Development Party, the Crescent Star Party and the Justice Party.

In Purwokerto, Central Java, some 1,000 Muslims marched
through the town calling for end to the violence in Ambon.
(prb/45/44/aan/har)