We the undersigned, as the leaders of the Christian and the Muslim communities in Moluccas, appeal to the international community for assistance and intervention in order to stop this tragic conflict which has already claimed an estimated 8000 lives and left over 500,000 people displaced. We believe that this conflict is not a religious conflict.
Religion is used to serve the political agenda of certain factions in Indonesia.
The Moluccan people are considered expendable pawns in this political game and they are paying the price of every move with their lives. Since the violence is perpetrated by provocateurs and militant extremist, some of whom hold high-level position in the government and the military, we believe this conflict will not come to an end without some form of international assistance. We ask the United Nations, European Parliament and foreign governments to urge the Indonesian government in the strongest possible terms to adopt and act on the following recommendations. The government should act on its rhetoric and take concrete measures to end the violence and to pursue conflict resolution in the Moluccas. The government should start implementing the security measures it has already agreed to as a matter of urgency.