Circulation of anonymous letters and false reports builds tension

Amboina (AsiaNews) – Tension continues to rise in Ambon where new cases of violence have erupted between Christians and Muslims, leading to several deaths and many more being seriously wounded in the last few weeks following a series of false news circulated. 

According to the Amboina Crisis Center, unsigned letters are now threatening hopes for reconciliation between the two warring religious communities. Investigations will soon be underway to discover who has authored the letters.

According to the diocesan Crisis Center, one letter contained false news about nine Muslims being butchered in the village of Benjina (in the Aru islands, 600 km southeast of Ambon) and about seven Muslims being slaughtered at sea when sailing from from Sorong (Papua) to Ambon. 

It was reported that the new Moluccas Police Chief, Brig.Gen. Aditya Warman, last Monday, May 10, had a secret meeting with former Laskar Jihad leader Ja'far Umar Thalib, a gathering which was supposedly on an informal nature.  However Vice Governor Abdullah Latuconsina strongly denied the news of any Muslim fundamentalist militants in Ambon.

Adding to further tension among the Muslim population, is another unsigned letter, purportedly drawn up by the GPM Church (the official Protestant Church in the Moluccas). The letter  contained instructions to all GPM Christians to support the candidacy of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the upcoming July 5 presidential elections. The letter says it vital to vote for the former national security minister and now Democratic Party presidential candidate in order to further Christianize the island.

During a press conference, GPM officials denied having written and circulated the letter. (MR)

• moluccas
• viloence
• christians
• muslims