Two prominent Christian leaders, Monsignor Joseph Tethool and Rev. Sam Titaley, issued an urgent plea on behalf of the threatened Christian community in the Moluccas for international intervention following a week marked by massacres and continuous fighting with an estimated 52 dead since Wednesday and hundreds injured in Ambon alone.

Last Monday, June 19, the predominantly Christian village of Duma in North Moluccas was attacked by a large jihad force aided by members of a Kostrad unit.

In what was reportedly the worst single incident since the start of the conflict, an estimated 155 people were massacred and Christian women and children were snatched according to Christian sources. Local Muslim leaders have since denied that they are being held hostage.

Ambon itself is completely paralysed. Schools and offices are closed down and communications and transportation are non-existent. There has been continuous fighting.

In another incident on Friday, June 23, the Christian university in the Moluccas (Universitas Kristen Indonesia-Maluku) was razed to the ground by jihad warriors and members of the military. Eyewitnesses spoke of jihad warriors attacking the campus with jugs filled with petrol backed up by a "military panser". Remains of bullets, hand grenades and ammunition for heavy machine guns was found at the scene. Members of the University stated that "the destruction of the university is a great loss not only to the Christian community but to other faith communities as the students came from all faith backgrounds". The members have appealed to the Indonesian government to take serious action to end the violence and have pleaded for help in evacuating the women and children to safety. Apart from the university building, hundreds of houses, a telecommunications complex and other buildings were burned and over 20 people were killed on Friday alone. There are serious concerns that Maranatha Church, a central Protestant church, and the Synod office of the Protestant church will be attacked next by the Islamists.

The worsening situation has prompted President Wahid to issue a travel ban on June 23 stopping outsiders entering the region. However it remains to be seen how effectively the ban will be enforced as reports suggest that Islamists are gaining active support from elements in the Indonesian armed forces.

According to unconfirmed reports, a commercial vessel, 'Bukitt Siguntang', arrived in the Moluccas on Saturday carrying a large number of jihad warriors despite the travel ban. An attack was reportedly launched from the ship on Christian villages in Gudang Arang and Benteng.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has repeatedly raised concerns regarding the role of provocateurs/jihad warriors in escalating the sectarian conflict and has mobilised parliamentarians and Christians to urge the Indonesian authorities to take effective measures to bring an end to this tragic conflict (see CSW press releases 8.5 and 19.5.2000) Baroness Caroline Cox, President of CSW, initiated a debate on June 20th in the House of Lords on Indonesia during which she presented evidence gathered during an April CSW fact-finding visit to the region, and raised the concerns of Indonesian Christian community regarding long-term plans to turn Indonesia into an extremist Islamic state by 2003 which would have far-reaching implications regionally and globally. Lady Cox stated the need for reconciliation, which is based on openness, honesty and acknowledgement of what has happened; and urged the British government to encourage the Indonesian Government to take immediate action to stop the murderous activities of the jihad force and allow international monitors to be attached to the armed forces; to allow an international fact-finding mission to undertake impartial investigation into the conflicts in the Moluccas; to take immediate measures to investigate, identify and prosecute those responsible for these conflicts, which have caused such immense suffering. Lady Cox also urged the British government to support President Wahid in his commitment to maintain democracy and religious tolerance, particularly as the President is facing many powerful opponents bent on either bringing back the previous political leaders or moving Indonesia forwards to become a more militant, intolerant Islamic regime.