Maluku churches look to PB NU for help

Maluku churches look to PB NU for help

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Catholic and Protestant Churches in Maluku
are seeking the aid of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization,
Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU), to help extract members of Laskar Jihad
Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah (Jihad Force) out of the province.

In a letter dated May 20, 2000, and signed by the chairman of
Maluku's Protestant Church Rev. SP Titaley and Secretary of
Amboina Diocese Atjas TR, they claimed that local administration
and security officers had half-heartedly acted in settling the
interreligious clashes in Ambon and Maluku.

Before the arrival of members of Laskar Jihad last month, the
situation in Maluku province, including the capital of Ambon, had
been under control, the letter said. "Maluku people, be they
Christians or Muslims, had stopped attacking each other. A small
number of people were involved in minor fighting as revenge for
losing relatives or belongings. But they were gradually toning
down their temper. Then Laskar Jihad arrived and triggered a
fresh outbreak of violence."

The churches also called on NU to arrange a dialog between
Christians and Muslims in order to seek a reconciliation, the
letter said. "Social and religious accord had been maintained for
decades in the province. We want the peaceful situation to
return."

The churches further asked NU to help arrange the replacement
of "partial, unjust and dishonest" military officers so that
peace and reconciliation could be reached.

Reports have said that some 2,200 members of Laskar Jihad
entered Ambon last month.

Laskar Jihad earlier rejected a call from Maluku authorities
and residents to leave the islands, saying that the request was
baseless.

"Our members were only involved in fightings for self-
defense," Yogyakarta-based Laskar Jihad spokesman Ayip
Syarifuddin said recently when asked about the group's
involvement.

Condemnation

In Jakarta, leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama's legislative
Syuriah body Said Aqil Siradj condemned on Friday the aggressive
moves allegedly committed by Laskar Jihad.

"Nahdlatul Ulama strongly condemns such action. Killing each
other is not the answer. The Prophet Muhammad teaches us to
preach by respecting other parties.

"We believe in a moralistic way of propagating Islam, and what
the group (Laskar Jihad) do in Maluku is against basic (Islamic)
principles," Said told The Jakarta Post by phone.

Said also said he had received complaints from Maluku's Muslim
and Christian leaders upon the arrival of Laskar Jihad.

"NU branches (in Maluku) have long established a good
relationship with the Christians. The situation in the islands
was improving and was relatively calm in the past couple of
months.

"The group's arrival added to the recent unrest and it is
obvious that certain parties paid for all of their expenses and
weaponry," he said, refusing to elaborate further.

President Abdurrahman Wahid had clearly warned Laskar Jihad
not to enter Maluku, Said added, "And, therefore, now we have no
choice but act together with NU, the authorities and the Maluku
people to face the group and expel them from the islands."

Back in Ambon, Pattimura Military Commander overseeing Maluku
Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela said he had ordered massive gun sweeping
operations in each village in Ambon and Maluku.

He also added the death toll had reached 34, with more than 70
others injured in an overnight armed mass attack at the Mamuya
village in Galela district on Halmahera island, North Maluku.

"I have ordered naval ships in North Maluku to block the
waters between the islands to stop rioters," Tamaela said in his
office on Friday.

A fresh batch of crack riot troops from the National Police's
Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and Infantry Battalion IX in Jember, East
Java is slated to arrive on Saturday, Tamaela added.

The latest trouble erupted on Friday morning in Bula and West
Seram districts on Seram island, Central Maluku, as a mob of
hundreds tried to attack other neighboring camps.

Seram island is about one day on a speedboat from North
Maluku's Halmahera island.

"The crowd vandalized several houses, but we quickly dispersed
them. There were no casualties reported," Tamaela said.

"Stern action will be taken against rioters, whoever they are.
Too many people have died in vain," he added.

Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina shared Tamaela's view,
adding that the authorities were working on an arrangement to
expel Laskar Jihad. "We have to do it carefully as not to trigger
further upheaval." (48/49/edt/sur)