Masked men kill 12 in Christian village - World - Indonesia - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

National Catholic Reporter, May 10, 2002 by Gill Donovan

INDONESIA: A group of masked men attacked Soya, a Christian village near Ambon in eastern Indonesia, killing 12 people and injuring a dozen others, a church source said.

Fr. Johanes Skia said April 28 by phone from Ambon that the victims died from burns, gunshot wounds or from stabbing. In addition, at least 24 houses were burned down, including a Protestant church that was built in 1876. He said among the victims was an 8-month-old baby and a 3-year-old boy.

According to Skia, as of April 29 the attackers have remained unidentified. He criticized the Civilian Emergency Authority and local security forces for not applying tough measures.

He expressed hope that security officials would enforce measures to prevent the spread of riots throughout Ambon.

On April 26, on the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of South Maluku by separatists, a newly-rebuilt Protestant church was burned, and the culprits have yet to be caught. The situation in Ambon has remained tense since that anniversary commemoration, he said.

Skia asked members of the media to avoid generalization by identifying the Republic of South Maluku activists as Christians. He maintained that there are Muslims and Christians in the separatist movement, and that the group's separatist demand has nothing to do with religious conflict, but is rooted in Dutch colonization.

Briefs, gathered from news services, correspondents and staff, are compiled and edited by Gill Donovan.