mbon
city barriers are down: for the first time after three years of
conflict, Moluccas Christians and Muslims in their thousands formed
a joyful mass rally to celebrate the return of peace in the Islands.
Ambon resident were joined by thousands of others from neighboring
islands in the parade of an estimated 25,000 people across the city
on February 28. The
parade followed a mass gathering promoted by Ambon’s Muslim
leaders in the Main Square of the Grand Al Fatah Mosque to celebrate
the Moluccas peace pact signed in Malino earlier in the month. Ambon
Christians spontaneously joined their Muslim fellow citizens.
Speaking to Fides, Fr Cornelius Bohm from the Ambon Crisis
Center described the scene: "Christians and Muslims were
seen hugging, shaking hands, talking to one another, even shedding
tears of joy for the peace agreement. The motorcade included becak,
(pedicab), and ojek, (motorcycle taxi), school children,
civil servants. It was an amazing event".
Ambon has returned to life. The parade showed people that normal life is once more possible
To prevent clashes between Moluccas Protestant and Muslim communities, which began in January 1999, Ambon was divided in two zones: Muslim and Christian. On February 28 this segregation ended spontaneously as people flocked to join the convoy making its way through the streets. Even on the water in Ambon Bay, in the past the scene of reciprocal attacks on shipping vessels, at least 100 local speedboats piloted by Muslims and Christians joined in to mark the festivity.
"Ambon has returned to life - said a local resident -. The parade showed people that normal life is once more possible ". In fact Christian women are seen again shopping at Ambon’s Plaza in Siliwangi road, a predominantly Muslim area. While Citra Plaza in Tulukabesi road, predominantly Christian, is safe again for Muslim shoppers. "Many Muslim women, noted by their head-scarf, are seen again at the Citra Plaza super market,"
Observers say the event raised hopes for peaceful co-existence in Ambon, despite four minor bomb explosions which rocked the city on February 27, causing little damage and no casualties. On February 12, under the auspices of the central government of Indonesia, Maluku’s Muslim and Christian leaders signed a peace agreement in Malino, South Sulawesi, to halt all forms of sectarian violence and they agreed on disarmament.
(From Fides Service)