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Apostolic Nuncio Urges Maluku People To Build Lasting Peace

Updated: December 07, 2005 05:00 PM GMT
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The apostolic nuncio to Indonesia has urged government, religious leaders and all those living in the former conflict-ridden Maluku islands to work toward a permanent reconciliation.

"It is time to end conflicts you suffered several years ago. Government, religions and people should provide true peace and justice to all, respect differences and love all people regardless of background," said Archbishop Malcom Ranjith, apostolic nuncio to Indonesia.

The nuncio was addressing a crowd of 1,000 on Dec. 4 at the St. Francis Xavier Multipurpose Building of Amboina diocese´s cathedral in Ambon, capital of Maluku province, 2,340 kilometers east of Jakarta. The Sunday celebration honored Saint Francis Xavier, patron saint of Amboina, whose feast day is Dec. 3. Archbishop Ranjith was on a three-day pastoral visit to the diocese.

"I urge you to build a new Maluku where justice and peace reign, to stop violence against children and to heal children living with trauma and those orphaned because of the conflict," the nuncio pleaded.

"Conflict must stop. Unity, justice and peace will prevail in Maluku when all people unite in one big community," Archbishop Ranjith said, drawing a spontaneous "Amen" in response from the gathering. Among those present were Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu and Ambon Mayor M.J. Papilaja, both Protestants, as well as Reverend John Ruhulessin, chairman of the Synod of the Protestant Church of Maluku.

During a Dec. 2 dinner with the governor at his residence in Ambon, the nuncio pointed out that difference and pluralism are God´s gifts. "Through the differences we see the beauty of God. Thus, differences are not the reasons to fight each other, because rejecting the differences means opposing God´s wisdom," he said.

Sacred Heart Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi of Amboina, who also was among the dinner guests, expressed hope that the nuncio would tell Pope Benedict XVI about the peaceful situation in Maluku. "Peace exists thanks to the cooperation among government officials, religious leaders, security officials and the people," he said.

The governor urged Catholics to participate in the province´s development agenda and to cooperate with the government and those from other religions in maintaining peace.

Various Ambon residents UCA News spoke with expressed similar sentiments.

Ice Alwer of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Benteng said the presence of the nuncio and the large number of people of various religions brought about "a special charisma for peace in Maluku."

Lies Ulahayanan, who chairs the Ambon unit of Catholic Union of University Students of the Republic of Indonesia, said she felt pride over the nuncio´s visit "because the small number of Catholics in Maluku now have new hope."

A member of a Muslim "qasida" troupe that entertained the visiting prelate said she was glad to have that opportunity. "I hope Maluku people maintain peace so that youths can communicate with one another without fear," said Rohani Amahoru, 25. Members of her troupe danced to religious chanting in Arabic accompanied by the "gambus," a six-stringed instrument.

Maluku province has 114,043 Muslims, 173,995 Protestants, 10,356 Catholics, 425 Hindus and 332 Buddhists, according to information available from Amboina diocese. The diocese covers the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku but has no data on the people in predominantly Muslim North Maluku, created out of Maluku during Christian Muslim clashes 1999-2002 that killed about 6,000 people and displaced several hundred thousand.

Last year members of the Maluku Sovereignty Front raised a South Maluku Republic flag on their April 25th anniversary. A clash ensued between a group claiming to be defenders of Indonesia, most of them Muslims, and independence supporters, most of them Christians. This sparked several days of communal violence in the Ambon area that left 30 people dead and 200 injured. Fears arose of a renewal of the earlier clashes, but this did not occur.

END

(Accompanying photos available at here)

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