Wednesday, July 5 2000 13:44

Uniting Church in Australia National Assembly
DESPERATE SITUATION IN AMBON, INDONESIA - PLEASE HELP

Ambon is in a desperate situation. Last night colleagues contacted me
from Ambon with the information that Poka village and Rumahtiga village
have been destroyed. Pattimura University (state university) has also
been burnt out. This includes staff housing.

My colleagues say the immediate priority is the evacuation of
communities to safe places in Indonesia. Rev Dr John Titaley has asked
me to inform the world that between 11,000 and 12,000 people need to be
evacuted urgently. They are located around Ambon and in the hills.

People fear there could be a similar disaster to what happened in North
Maluku where the "Cahaya Bahari" sunk on its way to Manado in North
Sulawesi. The boat, a coastal copra trading vessel,  was grossly
overloaded with people fleeing for their lives from Halmahera island.
Around 480 people are thought to have drowned.

Now there are great fears that the Jihad militia in Ambon will pursue
people who have taken refuge in the hills. This will result in the
slaughter of many people.

People are very distressed. They no longer trust the security forces
because the army and police are  unable or unwilling to provide adequate
protection. Eye witness accounts indicate some elements of the military
are still actively involved in the violence..

Thank you for your attention to this dreadful situation. An urgent
response is required.

Rev John Barr

Secretary for Indonesia
Uniting Church in Australia National Assembly
PO Box A2266 Sydney South 1235
Phone +61 2 8267 4251; 0408826742
Fax +61 2 8267 4222
Eamil jbarr@nat.uca.org.au