wfn.org | Update on Indonesia

[Sheila MESA <smm@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Update
4 March 1999

ACTION REGARDING INDONESIA

 cf. WCC Press Release of 27 January 1999
 cf. WCC Press Release of 9 February 1999

On 1 March 1999 the World Council of Churches' General Secretary,
Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, sent the following letter to President Bacharuddin
Jusuf Habibie of Indonesia:

"Your Excellency,

The World Council of Churches has closely followed the developments in
Indonesia since the May 1998 riots. The Council and its member
churches have watched with growing concern the unfolding ethnic
violence and communal conflicts that have left thousands of families in
pain and despair. These events are all the more appalling because they
are against the very spirit and proud traditions of the Indonesian people
for religious pluralism.

Concerned by these developments, the VIIIth WCC Assembly, held in
Harare last December, decided to send an ecumenical delegation on a
pastoral visit to Indonesia from the 26th of January to 4th of February. I
take this opportunity to thank you and your other senior cabinet
colleagues for taking the time to meet with the delegation on the 2nd of
February. The meeting not only provided the delegation with the
opportunity to express the concern of the churches around the world on
the situation in Indonesia, but it also helped the delegation to understand
and appreciate the difficulties encountered by your government as it
endeavors to defuse the present climate of violence and conflict that has
affected large parts of Indonesia. At the meeting Your Excellency
deplored these acts of violence and condemned those responsible for
the attacks on churches and mosques, as well as the fostering of
religious hostilities. The delegation was assured that the government
was doing everything in its power to bring the perpetrators responsible
for these reprehensible  acts to justice. The delegation returned hopeful
with the assurance given by you.

It is now a month since that visit, yet the violence and communal conflicts
continue unabated. New areas have been engulfed in a frenzy of fresh
communal violence. Those responsible for the killings and arson have yet
to be brought to justice.

We are distressed by these developments, more particularly with the
situation in Ambon where the trouble began in mid-January last and
continued while the delegation was in Indonesia. At that time the General
Secretary of the Indonesian Council of Churches together with the
leaders of other religious communities accompanied government officials
to Ambon to help authorities in their efforts to restore peace and
harmony in the region. This is a region where Muslims and Christians
have long lived side by side in peace.

We have now received reports from our member churches that Ambon
remains in the grip of communal frenzy, never witnessed before. There
are daily reports of casualties and of attacks against Christian homes
and places of worship, particularly in Batu Merah Dalam in the northern
part of the city. It is a matter of deep concern for us that the special army
units whose duty it is to protect the lives and properties of all
Indonesians are accused of a partisan approach. This has spread
insecurity and unrest amongst the members of the Christian community. 

We urge Your Excellency to ensure that military personnel act as
custodians of law and order and carry out their duties in accordance
with the guiding principles of "Pancasila'. Also that immediate steps are
taken to apprehend those responsible for violence, arson and killings and
that they are brought before the courts of law to stand trial. Failure to do
so will encourage the perpetrators to continue to indulge in these
heinous crimes with impunity, thus further damaging Indonesia's image in
the comity of nations. 

We trust that, in accordance with the assurances given to the
Ecumenical Delegation, Your Excellency will give this matter urgent and
serious consideration."

Contact:  Karin Achtelstetter, Media Relations Officer  (+41.22) 791.61.52

**********
The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 338, in
more than 100
countries in all continents from virtually all Christian traditions.  The
Roman Catholic Church is
not a member church but works cooperatively with the WCC.  The
highest governing body is
the Assembly, which meets approximately every seven years.  The WCC
was formally
inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Its staff is headed by
general secretary
Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
Public Information Team
Tel:  (41.22) 791.61.52/51
Fax:  (41.22) 798 13 46
E-Mail: ka@wcc-coe.org
http://www.wcc-coe.org

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