wfn.org | NCCCUSA Staff Travel to Indonesia

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Internet: news@ncccusa.org

Contact: Wendy McDowell, NCC, 212-870-2227

129NCC12/10/98         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC STAFF MEMBERS WITNESS RELIEF AND RECONSTRUCTION
IN MIDST OF INDONESIA'S TURMOIL

 NEW YORK, Dec. 10 ---- Economic and political turmoil 
in Indonesia has created and exacerbated interreligious 
tensions there, reported two staff members from the National 
Council of Churches who spent two weeks in Indonesia 
recently visiting the new $2.5 million food program 
implemented by the NCC and funded by the United States 
Agency for International Development (USAID).

"We visited to show appreciation to the staff  and our 
partner, the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (CCI), who 
have gotten our comprehensive food-for-work program off the 
ground," said the Rev. Dr. Rodney Page, Executive Director 
of Church World Service (CWS), the NCC's human development, 
refugee assistance and disaster relief ministry.  "We also 
went to show solidarity with the churches and the people of 
Indonesia during this time of deep crisis in the life of 
their nation."

 "As a memorable line in a play says, `Everything nailed 
down is coming loose.'  That is what is happening in 
Indonesia right now," said the Rev. Larry Tankersley, NCC 
Southern Asia Director, who spent November 14-25 in 
Indonesia with Dr. Page.  "There are student demonstrations 
every day, including while we were there.  Last week 14 more 
students were killed.  About 1,500 people have been killed 
in the recent violence."

 "Economically, people have suffered a dramatic decline 
in their buying power and 80 percent of businesses in 
Indonesia are technically bankrupt," Rev. Tankersley also 
said.  "What's more, 20 million people are unemployed.  On 
top of the social problems, there have been forest fires and 
El-Ni¤o related drought.  All of this has led to a World 
Food Programme estimate that 40 percent of the population 
will be unable to meet their basic nutritional requirements 
in the coming year."

 "Most disturbing to us in the religious community is 
that the religious world in Indonesia seems to be coming 
apart, as well," Rev. Tankersley added.  "There has been a 
history of religious tolerance in the region, but over the 
last several months, Dayak Christians have killed Madarese 
Muslims in Kalimantan and Javanese Muslims have killed 
Ambonese Christians in Jakarta.  There have been burnings of 
churches and mosques.  Just last week, a church was burned a 
few blocks from our office in Ujungpandang.  The military 
had placed a guard on churches in several cities."

 "People we met expressed concern about this increasing 
tension between Muslims and Christians," Dr. Page said.  
"Because of the economic crisis, scapegoats are sought and 
interreligious tensions are exacerbated."

 Yet in the midst of crisis, the food-for-work program 
delivers much-needed rice and results in work projects which 
help to rebuild the infrastructure and increase food 
security.

CWS works with CCI to supply 45 percent of the caloric 
needs for 37,000 people in Sulawesi, one of Indonesia's five 
largest islands which has been particularly hard hit.  The 
12-month emergency food program will increase food supplies 
until the next harvest and ensure that children under 5 and 
lactating mothers do not become malnourished.

In exchange, recipients repair roads and bridges, build 
water conservation systems and plant trees.  One-third of 
the beneficiary families will receive seeds and tools.

 While there, Dr. Page and Rev. Tankersley witnessed the 
delivery of rice.  Ten tons of rice per day is being 
distributed in Sulawesi.  They also visited a rice paddy 
irrigation project near Ujungpandang where Dr. Page helped 
to dig a ditch.

 "This food is given without regard to religious 
affiliation or ethnicity, but given only on the basis of 
need," Dr. Page explained.

"CWS has always supported interreligious dialogue and 
interfaith cooperation in Indonesia," Rev. Tankersley said.  
"We will continue to do so, while our program will model 
such cooperation."

Meanwhile, "people hesitate to make even educated 
guesses about what will unfold in Indonesia," Rev. 
Tankersley said.  "Elections are set for October but it is 
hard to know whether or not they will solve anything."

"People asked for our prayers for Indonesia," Dr. Page 
said.

 CWS plans additional projects in Indonesia to respond 
to the current crisis.

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