In this issue... 1. LATEST UPDATE ON REV RINALDY DAMANIK 2. TERRORISM / JEMAAH ISLAMIAH AND THE MALUKU CONFLICT 3. CURRENT REFUGEE SITUATION LATEST UPDATE ON REV RINALDY DAMANIK Because Rev Damanik's appeal is before the Supreme Court in Jakarta, only they [the Supreme Court] can authorise his ongoing detention. A letter should have been sent to the justice dept in Central Sulawesi giving this authorisation. However it was not received by the due date (Sep 15), meaning, according to Indonesian law, Rev Damanik is a free man and cannot be held in the prison. His lawyers attempted to remove Damanik from prison but it became obvious that it was going to cause quite a stir and may lead to violence from both those opposed to Rev Damanik (if they discovered he had been freed) and from his supporters (in the event that the authorisation finally arrived and he had to be re-arrested and sent back to prison!). So, Damanik preferred to remain in prison and have his lawyers pursue the matter directly with the Supreme Court, who alone can sort out the confusion. So as of today (Sep 22) Rev Damanik remains in prison in Palu and no authorisation has yet come from Jakarta regarding his status. A most unusual situation, but not surprising, given the number of other inconsistencies that have surrounded the whole arrest and conviction. Many have now received a 12minute video/VCD of "To Reach the Dawn", from Cry Indonesia which chronicles the events of Rev Damanik's arrest and his testimony from jail. It includes a song sung by his 13yr old daughter and a personal greeting from Rev Damanik to those who have supported him in prayer and other ways. Details of how to order your free copy (PAL or NTSC), and for a complete background on the situation, including the latest news, you can now visit our fully updated website at http://cryindonesia.rnc.org.au (follow the link to Rev Damanik). Just one more note on this: this is just one man among thousands in East Indonesia who have been treated unjustly but it is very important that we continue to support him because in defending him we will make it harder for those who act unjustly to do so again in the future. TERRORISM / JEMAAH ISLAMIAH AND THE MALUKU CONFLICT In what has turned out to be a catastrophic error of judgment, governments, media, and so-called experts on Indonesia categorised the conflict in Maluku and Central Sulawesi as 'sectarian', or as a 'local conflict'. Such analysis, disregarded the driving ideology behind the conflict and ignored the weight of evidence that groups outside Maluku, in fact, outside Indonesia, were involved in the conflict:- both in providing jihad fighters and in financing the operation. However, since the attack in Bali in October 2002 and the 'discovery' of terrorist cells operating within Indonesia and an Al Qaeda training camp in Central Sulawesi, there has been a better broad based understanding of the relationship between the Maluku conflict and the development of terrorist operations within South-East Asia. To begin with, the victims were the Christian community of East Indonesia. But the goal of those who control the purse strings of Indonesia's jihad has always been the creation of an Islamic State that includes a large part of South East Asia. The conflict has been fought on many levels by different groups of people who were often not aware how their actions was being manipulated by others. Only now is that clarity being seen. Leading US academic and terrorism expert, Zachary Abuza, in a new book gives detail of the chilling connection between the jihad against the christian church, the Bali bombing, and future threats to our region: "Al-Qa'ida looked upon the new political environment in Indonesia with great interest and was heartened by the lack of political will to challenge the increasingly active and vociferous radicals. In June 2000, two top bin Laden lieutenants Ayman al-Zawahiri and Mohammed Atef, were dispatched to the secessionist state of Aceh and the strife-torn Maluku islands. According to a leaked Indonesian report: 'both of them were impressed by the lack of security, the support and extent of the Muslim population' and clearly saw Indonesia as an important new base of operations. The intelligence report concluded that 'this visit was part of a wider strategy of shifting the base of bin Laden's terrorist operations from the subcontinent to South-East Asia'. The Maluku crisis convinced al-Qa'ida's leaders that the emphasis of their jihad operations should be shifted to Indonesia." [Extract from 'Militant Islam in South East Asia', reprinted in the Weekend Australian, Sep 13-14. Book available in October, 2003]. Since the bombing in Bali, Indonesian police have been active to arrest members of Jemaah Islamiah. A raid on July 9 uncovered a huge cache of ammunition, weapons, and bomb making ingredients, including 900kg of potassium chlorate, 160kg of TNT, 65 high explosive detonators, timers and batteries. They also found maps, documents and schedules for Sunday services for several churches in Jakarta. Their terror network was also responsible for the church bombings across Indonesia in Christmas 2000, that killed 19 people and injured many others. CURRENT REFUGEE SITUATION Due to the improved security situation in Maluku, The State of Emergency has now been lifted; in North Maluku in May, and in Maluku/Ambon on Sep 15. The State of Emergency that applied until now had given the two regional Governors supreme command over the military and police, and the authority to stop people from entering the province or any specific area, to ban public meetings and to censor press reports. This has made it difficult to provide practical and spiritual support to the many refugees who were displaced within their own province (that is, they fled to nearby safer areas). Now access to these ones is less of an issue. However, it also means it becomes easier for those who might want to come in from outside to stir up conflict to do so again. The other pattern that we have sometime seen is 'unknown forces' stir up further trouble so that the military has a reason to continue their presence. So please pray for this transition to what we hope will be a lasting peace. Officially, of the 700,000 or so, displaced persons from the conflict, 202,000 are still unable to return home. From our research 10,000 of these remain in Manado, Nth Sulawesi, down from 42,000 at the height of the conflict. 4,000 of these have moved into resettlement areas near Manado and do not plan to return to Maluku. The remaining 6000 continue to face a very uncertain future. They are either too traumatised to return home, or the security situation cannot be guaranteed in their place of origin, the government does not provide for their needs in any way, many of the local people have grown weary of assisting them, and NGO's have moved onto more pressing crisis situations in other parts of the country. The ministry of IFC (International Friends of Compassion) is two-fold: assisting these most desperate ones who are forced to remain in or near Manado and assisting those who are able to return to Maluku. Your support and partnership in this endeavour over the last three years has literally saved the lives of hundreds of people and brought hope, encouragement and a new start for thousands! Thankyou so much. Please continue your investment in this life-changing, hope-giving partnership. It truly is making a difference. If you are in a position to give at this time, please mark your support to one of the following: 1) Medical ministry with Peter and Esther Scarborough 2) Rev Damanik's defense costs 3) General Refugee Support 4) Manado Project - Micro Enterprise Development Ian Freestone Cry Indonesia Australian Director, International Friends of Compassion