Posted on 10/19/2001 9:47:09 AM PDT by Pericles
Friday October 19 6:31 AM ET
Indonesia Muslims Turn Out in Force Against U.S. Raids
An Indonesian Muslim woman shouts during a protest in Jakarta October 19, 2001, against the U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan. More than 10,000 Muslims -- some singing 'our blood is boiling' -- marched through the Indonesian capital on Friday in the country's biggest protest to date against the U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan. (Beawiharta/Reuters)
By Achmad Sukarsono
JAKARTA (Reuters) - More than 10,000 Muslims, some singing ''our blood is boiling,'' marched through the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Friday in the country's biggest protest to date against the U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan.
But there was none of the violence that has marred previous rallies in the world's largest Muslim nation and the rally broke up peacefully by later afternoon.
The protesters, including hundreds of veiled women in white, marched from just outside the main mosque, past the U.S. embassy and then down the main thoroughfare before stopping at the city's central roundabout, which is also outside the British embassy.
``We are angry, our blood is boiling. Until the end of time, we will defend all Muslims,'' thousands sang together, led by protest organizers using loudspeakers.
Some waved Palestinian and Afghan flags, others carried banners attacking President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair over the Afghan assaults.
``Bush and Blair, you are so cruel, you have started a crusade,'' said one banner.
Security was generally low-key, but hundreds of police, troops and water cannon guarded the U.S. and British embassies or were on standby nearby. Traffic continued to flow slowly as police erected signs reading ``sorry, there is a demo.''
Earlier, Vice President Hamzah Haz who heads the country's largest Muslim party, appealed for an end to the protests, warning they could damage the impoverished country.
``We're facing an extraordinary dilemma. If we make a wrong step we can fall into a ravine... therefore I'm asking our Muslim people to stop demonstrating,'' he said in a speech while opening a mosque. ``I'm afraid... if our actions do not express that Islam is grace from Allah, the name of Islam will be destroyed.''
Indonesia has been hit by growing anti-U.S. sentiment, including calls for a holy war from some small, hardline groups, since U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan began on October 7 over the September 11 suicide hijack attacks on New York and Washington.
TREADING FINE LINE
The battered country and its secular president, Megawati Sukarnoputri, are trying to tread a delicate line between supporting a key ally and appeasing Muslim groups.
The capital has been relatively peaceful for most of this week after a violent clash between security forces and protesters on Monday and a police crackdown on radical Muslim leaders.
Worshippers at midday prayers on Islam's holiest day of the week were urged to show restraint, but also to be angry at the United States and its actions.
``We should not be provoked by anger,'' Muslim cleric Irfan Zidni told worshippers at the main Istiqlal mosque, one of the world's biggest.
``We should be angry at the inhumane actions of the United States and its allies, but we have to be wise in helping our brothers,'' he said.
``Let's help them now with prayers so that our brothers in Afghanistan can cope with the attacks from the enemies.''
INFIDELS
``Muslims will be infidels if they befriend people who expel fellow Muslims like the United States is expelling the Afghans.''
Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, targeted by a U.S.-led military campaign for sheltering Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network, have imposed their own strict interpretation of Islam on their country.
Washington accuses bin Laden of masterminding the September 11 attacks, which killed more than 5,000 people.
Vice President Haz, who has said the attacks on the United States should help cleanse Washington of its sins, appealed to Muslims to show solidarity with Afghanistan through charity and prayers, not protest.
``If we continue demonstrating, our country will become a poorer country,'' he warned. ``Many foreigners have left the country and the impact has been felt by our hotel industry and business community.''
About 90 percent of Indonesia's 210 million people are Muslim. Islam in Indonesia is generally moderate and peaceful.
A Learned Elder of Zion on Loan from Zog.
This is what I was afraid of. They make no differentiation between murdering, barbaric Muslims and the other kind (are there some?).
A murdering, barbaric savage of a Muslim is just a brethren who gets "a little carried away" and can easily be forgiven.
To characterize the entire nation based on a photograph designed to exaggerate crowd size and the accompanying text that does not put the size of this demonstration into perspective, I'd suggest that maybe the feeling of the faculty lounge at Berkeley University could be characteristic of the American mood.
Don’t buy these crap stories. If the Muslim extremists in Jakarta can only get 10k out for their rally, they don’t have any support.
Gosh! And all this time, I had it set to zohar mekubbal ein sof binah 70. How silly of me! I've cracked more mirrors trying to get the darn thing to work...
Yet another fine example of moral equivalency in action. All material distinctions among vast sectors of human historical experience are forbidden in advance. Therefore, we have no reason to be alarmed that one variant of Abrahamic religion conducts terrorist attacks using weapons of mass destruction against thousands of innocent civilians, while the others do not/have not done so. No need to worry about the jihadists, because let's face it: We Americans are just as much threatened by our own home-grown Christians and Jews as we are by fanatical Islamists.
Yep. This take on the "dark side of religion" sounds about right to me. best, bb.
You're kidding us right?
http://www.persecution.org/humanrights/indonesia.html
Religious Atmosphere:
Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim country in terms of the number of adherents. Eighty-eight percent of
Indonesia’s people are Muslim and almost 60% of these are Javanese Muslims who practice a very unorthodox
version of Islam mixed with mysticism and Buddhism. However, the number of Islamic extremists is growing. The
Christian community is 5% Protestant and 3% Roman Catholic. Tension between Muslims and Christians is
present throughout Indonesia but is mostly concentrated in the Maluku province (formerly called the Spice
Islands) where Muslim and Christian populations are roughly equal.
Government:
All residents of Indonesia must choose one of the five government-recognized religions (Islam,
Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Buddhism or, Hinduism). Their religious affiliation is then marked on all
official documents, including an identification card.
A 1969 regulation dictates that the agreement of the local community must be obtained before building a
house of worship. A permit must also be obtained from the Ministry of Religion. As a result of these laws,
Christians in Muslim-dominated areas have difficulty in obtaining permission to build churches.
The law allows conversion between religions. However, proselytizing in areas heavily dominated by another
religion is discouraged because it is seen as disruptive.
Recently religiously oriented political parties, illegal under the Soeharto regime, have become legal again.
Muslim parties won 30% of the vote while Christian parties did not fair well.
President Abdurrahman Wahid is an Islamic leader but his moderate stance and promotion of secular
politics and tolerance have drawn strong criticism from militant Muslims. The government officially
condemns jihad against the Christians in the Maluku. However, Wahid has done little to stop the violence.
Many members of Indonesia’s armed forces have helped militant Muslims in their goal of ridding the
country of Christians.
Extremist Groups:
Laskar Jihad (Holy War Army) -- a self-styled army of Islamic "warriors" who are waging a "holy war"
against Christians. The army is mostly composed of veterans from Bosnia and Afghanistan along with
students from local Muslim schools.
Muslim Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Forum – a paramilitary group which claims its role is to help fellow
Muslims, not attack Christians. The group has, in fact, been involved in violent acts but claims they were in
self-defense.
Hamas – a violent revolutionary group
Indonesian Committee for Worldwide Islamic Solidarity (KISDI)
Recent Actions:
Ongoing – Violence between Muslims and Christians began on January 19, 1999 during a dispute between a
Christian bus driver and a Muslim passenger. Insiders say, however, that the incident simply provided the
necessary catalyst for militant Muslims to instigate a premeditated plan of violence against Christians. As of
February of 2001, an estimated 8,000 people have been killed in the resulting violence and at least 500,000
have been displaced.
Ongoing – Since April of 2000, militant Muslims have been arriving in large numbers to the Maluku
province. Most of them received military training in northern Java where they were prepared to fight a jihad
against Christians. The militant Muslims arrive by means of public transportation and later arm themselves
with weapons which have been smuggled to the island. The influx of these Muslims is a major source of the
continuing violence on the island of Ambon.
Ongoing – As of December 2000 it is reported that as many as 5000 Christians have been forced to undergo
Muslim conversion rituals to convert to Islam. Those refusing to embrace the Islamic faith are often
beheaded. Their heads are then paraded around the village to strike fear into the hearts of other Christians.
September 23, 2001 – Extremist Indonesian Islamic organizations are rallying support for Osama bin Laden.
On Sunday, Abu Bakar Baasir, leader of the Laskar Mujahedeen task force told a gathering, “Bin Laden is
fighting for our beliefs, so we must support his struggle if possible. We could help Afghanistan in defending
attacks launched by the U.S. government.”
September 18, 2001 – An approximated 42,608 refugees from 14 sub-districts in North Malaku have
returned home. The group of Christians and Muslims, was displaced 2 years by violent conflicts, but now
have agreed to “forge a new brotherhood.” (Jakarta Post)
August 7, 2001 – 3,000 members of the Laskar Jihad (Ahlul Sunnah wal Jamaah), led by Ajip Safruddin, are
poised to exterminate remaining Christians trapped in central Sulawesi. Laskar Jihad arrived in Palu, the
capital of central Sulawesi “to observe the life and condition in Poso.” Ajip was quoted, “we have been
called to help our Muslim brothers in Poso after learning that many Muslims had been killed and robbed of
their rights.” The Jihad have already dispatched 500 troops with another 2,500 on the way.
August 2, 2001 – Tuesday evening, two women were injured at the Christ Alfa Omega Tabernakel Bethel
Church when a car bomb exploded in the church parking lot. The wife of Rev. Timotius Subekti, Susana
Hilda Riyanti and her daughter Ferra Subekti suffered injuries and are being treated at the Tlogorejo
Hospital in Semarang. Susana’s right leg was amputated due to the severity of the wounds.
July 22, 2001 – Two churches were rocked by bomb blasts east of Jakarta on Sunday, witnesses said,
including one church celebrating Mass. At least 43 people were injured in the Roman Catholic Santa Ana
Church, and two people lost limbs. 14 people were hospitalized. Minutes later, a second bomb erupted in an
empty minibus parked at a nearby Protestant church. There were no injuries in the second blast. Police
blamed the bombings on unknown forces trying to disrupt the impeachment of President Abdurrahman
Wahid.
June 2001 – Around 200 Christians were rescued from an island in North Maluku where they had been
forced to convert to Islam and were held against their will for more than a year.
May 29, 2001 – Four churches in East Java were attacked as political rioting erupted into violence against
Christians. Three churches were damaged by stones and one burned down because no firefighters showed
up to extinguish the blaze, which had been set by the rioters.
May 23, 2001 – Three people disguised as ninjas reeked havoc in the Christian village of Kusu-Kusu. At least
one woman was murdered in her home and several others were wounded by stabbing and a grenade
explosion. The Brimob (police) later located and shot the ninjas, believed to be jihad warriors from Java,
mortally wounding them.
May 20, 2001 – Four Christian neighborhoods in Ambon were targeted by jihad warriors who are now
apparently disguising themselves as ninjas. The ninjas knocked on doors in the Christian neighborhoods.
Anyone opening the door was then stabbed with a bayonet. Grenades were also thrown, resulting in the
destruction of 10-20 houses. Nine people are reported dead and 17 injured.
May 13, 2001 – A speedboat full of Christians traveling from Gudang Arang to Galala was attacked by
black-clad "ninjas." Three people were killed and two others were seriously injured. The attack may have
been provoked by Ambon’s jihad leader, Ustad Attamimi, who called for revenge against Christians for
their alleged involvement in the death of 3 Muslims on May 10.
May 9, 2001 – Four Christians were reportedly shot dead when they attempted to check up on their farms in
Duma village. Duma has been under the control of jihad warriors since June of 2000 when hundreds of
Christian villagers were slaughtered and others were forced to flee. The four Christians had been living as
refugees but hoped to be able to move back to their village.
May 4, 2001 – Laskar Jihad leader, Jafar Umar Thalib was arrested in Surabaya and is currently being held
at the Police Headquarters in Jakarta. Despite his arrest it is reported that thousands more jihad warriors are
being dispatched to Maluku.
April 28, 2001 – Muslims arriving by boat attacked Waenalut village on the island of Buru. Two people were
killed and all of the remaining houses were razed.
April 27, 2001 – An extremist radio station broadcast encouraged its listeners to kill any Muslim
participating in reconciliation efforts or any Muslim doing business with a Christian. "If a Muslim is caught
doing business with a Christian, kill him, for it is better to slay one Muslim than that the whole Muslim
community is wiped out…" Some moderate Muslims have already been victims of aggression by militant
groups.
April 2, 2001 – Around 30 Muslims attacked the village of Kase on Buru Island, killing three people,
including a father and son.
March 26, 2001 – The body of Semy Toisuta, the son of a Protestant pastor, was found floating at Slamet
Riyadi harbor in Ambon. His body had been mutilated, including being circumcised.
March 20, 2001 – Agus Wattimena, a Christian grassroots leader, was killed by gunshot. It is not known
who was responsible.
February 21, 2001 – Christians in Alang Asaude village on the island of Ceram were attacked by Muslim
forces entering from the village of Waisala and from the sea. At least 3 people were killed and another was
seriously injured as the Christian residents tried to flee to a safe place. Only 8 houses in the entire village of
Alang Asaude remain undamaged.
February 2001 – ICC, along with Christian groups based in Indonesia, has launched a project to rescue
Christians being held against their will by Muslims. Christians in at least 8 villages have been forcibly
converted to Islam. Many have endured forced circumcision. Military forces, which are thought to be
restraining violence against the Christians, are expected to gradually pull out of these villages by the end of
February. ICC hopes to be able to transport these Christians to safe refugee camps and provide their basic
needs for approximately 6 months.
February 2001 – Numerous reports indicate that forced conversion to Islam and forced circumcisions may be
more widespread than originally thought. Forced Islamization has been reported in parts of Seram, Buru,
Bacan and Halmahera as well as Kasiui and Teor (mentioned in detail below). No one is exempt from
circumcision, as both men, women, elderly, and infants have been forcibly circumcised. The use of dull razor
blades and the absence of proper sanitation in these procedures have led to infections and in some cases,
death.
January 24, 2001 – The hamlet of Hatu Alang on the island of Ceram was attacked by approximately 500
Jihad warriors. Three civilians and an infantry sergeant were killed and as many as 84 houses were
destroyed along with several churches and schools. Some residents fled to the woods and were later
evacuated.
January 10, 2001 – A car full of Christians was attacked as it traveled through the Muslim neighborhood of
Galunggung in Ambon. Three were wounded and two remain missing as a result of the attack. Two other
Christians were seriously wounded in Batumerah when their limousine was shot at.
December 24, 2000 -- Several churches were destroyed and at least 19 people were killed as bombs exploded
in or near Christian churches all over the country. Several Catholic churches in Jakarta were targeted as
well as churches in West Java, Batam Island, and Sumatra. By God’s grace many other bombs were
discovered before they were able to detonate.
December 22, 2000 – President Abdurrahman Wahid publicly admitted the reality of forced Islamization,
saying "There is an effort by Islamic extremists to convert Christians to Islam. This is not right."
December 18, 2000 – A team that was sent to Kasiui to investigate allegations of forced Islamization
returned along with approximately 172 Christians who were then sent to refugee centers. The group
consisted mainly of women and children. Many of the Christians were prohibited from evacuating. An
estimated 800-1000 are still being held against their will. The team felt their investigations were hampered
by the presence of Muslims while converts were questioned about whether they had come to Islam of their
own free will.
December 8, 2000 – Muslim and Christian groups from Maluku met in Yogyakarta for "Baku Bae"
(reconciliation talks). However, even if local Muslims want peace in Maluku, extremist factions are pushing
to continue the jihad and some local Muslims have been threatened to continue the jihad or be killed
themselves.
December 2, 2000 – Five men were wounded when residents of the Muslim neighborhood of Batumerah
began firing mortars towards the Christian neighborhood of Mardika in Ambon.
December 1, 2000 – On Kasiui island teachers David Balubun and E. Rumatera were beheaded for refusing
to convert to Islam.
November 23, 2000 – Four Christian villages on Kasiui island were attacked by the Laskar Jihad. While
around 500 people fled to a neighboring island, at least 760 people fleeing into the woods were kidnapped
by Muslims and held hostage. A survivor reported that most of the Christians were forced to convert to
Islam while as many as 100 Christians died for refusing to recant their faith.
September 27, 2000 – The Civil State of Emergency called by President Wahid in June ended.
September 26, 2000 – Muslim men clad in white fired mortars on Christians in Hative Besar, killing at least 5
people and razing nearly 60 homes. Suli and Galala villages were also attacked by members of neighboring
villages.
September 24, 2000 – The village of Hative Besar on the island of Ambon was attacked during Sunday
service. At least 20 people were killed and several more were wounded.
September 20, 2000 – Muslim holy warriors swept across the island of Saparua in Maluku province,
attacking the villages of Sirsori Islam, Ulat, Iha, Nolot, Ihamahu and Pia. These attacks resulted in the
burning of several homes, the destruction of a church in Pia and one possible death.
September 17, 2000 – Christian Kaleb Situmorang was killed in a drive-by shooting in Medan. Mr.
Situmorang was mistaken for Pastor Benjamin Munthe because he was driving the pastor’s car and wearing
similar clothing. This was the third attempt on the life of Pastor Munthe, who also survived two attempted
bombings. Mr. Situmorang was Pastor Munthe’s assistant and a member of the rapidly-growing Victorious
Faith church.
July 4, 2000 – Pattimura University, the provincial government university in Ambon, was attacked and
burned by people coming from the Poka/Rumah Tiga area. It is believed that members of the Aceh
Liberation Movement were behind the attack. If this is true, it would indicate that the fighting taking place
in Maluku is not strictly religious in nature. Pattimura University has no ties to a religious institution.
July 2, 2000 – Ten people were rescued after their ferry was lost in a severe storm. The Cahaya Bahari was
carrying approximately 491Christians from the war-torn Maluku province to Manado when it disappeared.
Most of the people on board were Christians trying to escape the escalated violence in the Malukus. Some
were victims of the attack on Duma village (see June 19-20 below). The remaining 481 passengers remain
missing and are assumed dead.
June 26, 2000 – President Wahid called a state of emergency in the Maluku province due to escalated
violence in the area in recent weeks. Giving power to the military will do little to stop the fighting, however,
as it is largely unorganized and unable to respond. Three factions of the military have materialized: Muslims
participating in the jihad, Christians, defending their brothers and sisters, and Muslims who will neither
fight the jihad nor defend the Christians.
June 24, 2000 – Fighting in Ambon has been continuing for at least a week. Most of the city has been burned
and Christians are fleeing to nearby mountains since 75% of the island is now controlled by Muslims. The
Christian University in Ambon was totally destroyed during this week’s fighting.
June 23, 2000 – Members of the Brimob (police brigade) were attacked by militant Muslims after the Brimob
attempted to stop them from attacking Christians. The police barracks and officer’s quarters were burned.
Two officers were killed in the attack. A Protestant church in the village of Tantui was also burned.
June 22, 2000 – The Indonesian navy evacuated 700-800 Christians from the island of Halmahera due to the
massacre there earlier in the week (see below). The navy was acting under the order of the President to close
off Maluku to all outsiders. Despite this, however, more members of the Laskar Jihad arrived to the islands
only a few days later.
June 19-20, 2000 – Between 160 and 180 Christians were killed when a large force of Muslim fighters
attacked Duma on the island of Halmahera. Another 20-30 women and children were carried off by the
attackers and are assumed dead. Around 300 homes were also destroyed.
May 30, 2000 – At least 50 Christian villagers were massacred in a pre-dawn raid carried out by the Laskar
Jihad on the island of Halmahera. More than 100 others were injured in the raid.
May 28, 2000 – Two churches in Medan, northern Sumatra, were bombed during worship services and
many were seriously injured. Two more bombs were found in area churches only hours later.
May 25-26, 2000 – At least 34 people were killed when a band of Muslims launched a sea-borne raid on a
Christian village in the remote Galela district on the island of Halmahera.
May 16-21, 2000 – Over 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured during six days of rioting between
Christians and Muslims in Ambon.
April 6, 2000 – Five thousand Islamic extremists met at a rally in Jakarta where they declared a holy war
against Christians in the Maluku province. Radical leaders told the group that 10,000 youths were being
given military training to fight in the jihad.
March 27, 2000 – Fourteen boats carrying militant Muslims arrived at Buru island where they destroyed 105
houses, 3 churches, and 2 schools. Ninety percent of the island is now controlled by Muslims and only 5 of
19 Christian villages remain.
January 30, 2000 – Muslim mobs damaged or destroyed at least 12 churches in Yogyakarta.
You're off the Indonesian guest list for Ramadan!
Those who have actually read it will tell you that it is filled with violent rhetoric. As the basis of a totalitarian religion one shouldn't expect much though it is of such poor literary quality (unlike the Bible) that one would think that an illiterate, uncultured camel jockey wrote it. Oh, one did.
If Islam were comparable to Judaism or Christianity the towers would still be standing and the world would have a lot fewer Christians killed by murdering Moslems. Thousands are killed every year by adherents to this murderous killer cult.
Slow down on the Muslim bashing a little. These radicals (probably lead by common revolutionaries or common criminals) no more represent the majority Muslims than the West Virginia snake handlers or Hatian Voodo priests represent the majority of Christianity.
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