Stop the suffering of the Malukus
Stop the suffering of the Malukus
Religious cleansing in the Maluku islands is now in full view
of the world -- and so too is Jakarta's inability to stop it.
Instead of saying it is an internal matter, Jakarta must accept
foreign help in resolving what could become one of the world's
worst crimes against humanity.
Sectarian violence in Indonesia's Maluku islands was hidden
from the world's view until this last year. In this small island
chain, 2,400 distant kilometers from Jakarta, the odd skirmish
was never of great consequence. Ever since 1950, when the
Christians first battled Indonesian troops in a bid to secede
from the predominantly Muslim nation, sporadic fist-fights along
religious lines have been tolerated.
The Malukus have become unbearable for Christians. Last week
Ambon's Roman Catholic Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi and two
Protestant pastors left for Geneva to seek help from the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees. Jos Tethool, the Roman Catholic
auxiliary bishop left in Ambon, sent a plea to any other nation
in the world to help evacuate the Christians.
Also last week, the European parliament endorsed a call for
possible intervention but Jakarta strongly criticized the move,
saying foreign intervention is not welcome. Admittedly it was
Jakarta's decision to send thousands of Muslim migrants to the
Malukus and Jakarta must deal with the consequences. But the
Indonesian army has had no success in keeping the warring parties
apart and neither has a declaration of a civil emergency in the
islands on June 28.
The world cannot stand by and allow thousands of Christians to
perish, especially now they are pleading for their help. Unlike
in the 1950s, the Malukus are now of great consequence with the
world viewing it as another potential Kosovo. Jakarta must accept
foreign offers of help for the sake of humanity and to avert
accusations of supporting Muslims commit one of the largest
annihilations of another religious group the world has ever
recorded.
-- The Bangkok Post