He can barely speak through a mangled mouth and swollen lips. I don't understand why we are being killed. I'm just thankful to God that I am still alive. Frendy's response echoes among many in the communities of Ambon, where the majority of the population historically has been Christian in an overwhelmingly Muslim nation. A battle has raged here for two years.
Explanations are few, and blame is rampant.
Outwardly, the world hears of Christians being slaughtered by their Muslim neighbors. In early 1999, a dispute between a Christian and a Muslim sparked riots on Ambon. Some allege the incident was a tripwire that perhaps was planned. Attacks on Christian communities commenced, sparking killings and retaliation by both sides. Thousands have died and hundreds of churches and mosques have been reported destroyed in the islands in the months since.