WCC President Calls for Action in Indonesia

In lieu of the rising violence between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia, the World Council of Churches’ general secretary, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, released a letter to the president, Megawati Soekarnoputri, asking him to promote inter–religious dialogues between the two communities.

“The member churches of the World Council of Churches have all along striven for peace and reconciliation between the two communities and in this connection have consistently promoted inter–religious dialogue, through the Communion of Churches in Indonesia, particularly in the Malukus region. It is important that these efforts do not suffer a set–back because of actions of a few extremists on both sides of the religious divide,” wrote Kobia on the May 5th letter.

The violence in the region, which broke out on April 25, reportedly claimed the lives of over 200 Indonesians. Kobia said he supported a similar call from the local Protestant and Roman Catholic Church representatives in the face of "the outbreak of violence,” and said the two communities must continue the effort for peaceful dialogue.

Kobia specifically noted that some 40 people reportedly died from a deadly arson attack at the Indonesian Christian University in Malukus.

"Much of the damage and spread of violence could have been avoided if the Indonesian security forces… had taken timely action," Kobia said.

Pauline J. Chang